[Hemangioma of the facial nerve].

In this retrospective study the respective values of MRI and CT in the location and nature diagnoses of facial nerve haemangiomas were evaluated. The four male patients examined were 31, 44, 56 and 62 years old; they presented with facial nerve pals and/or cochlear-vestibular dysfunction. The haemangiomas were located in the internal auditory canal, the geniculate ganglion, the tympanic segment of the facial nerve and the petrous bone apex. MRI revealed a tumoral process, while CT showed intratumoral calcifications and provided a diagnosis of mass nature in two cases. In the other cases the pre-operative diagnosis was neurinoma of the VIIIth or VIIth cranial nerve. Histology ascertained the diagnosis. MRI is the method of choice in cases of facial paralysis or cochlear-vestibular dysfunction if a tumoral cause is suspected. Haemangioma is an uncommon tumour without specific image, except for calcifications and neighbouring osseous reactions. It must also be considered on the basis of clinical and topographical findings revealed by CT and MRI imaging.