Peripheral facial paralysis secondary to metastatic malignant melanoma. A clinicopathologic report.

We report a case of disseminated malignant melanoma in which the initial sign was an isolated peripheral facial palsy on the left side. The cause of the palsy was established five months later, with the appearance of metastatic axillary nodes. The temporal bones demonstrated tumor infiltration within the marrow spaces of the petrous apices bilaterally. The left facial nerve was also extensively involved with melanoma to the level of the geniculate ganglion.