Red chorda tympani nerve in Herpes Zoster oticus.

A red chorda tympani nerve was previously reported as a finding limited to patients with Bell's palsy. This is a report of red chorda tympani nerve observed in 3 of 10 patients with Herpes Zoster oticus in whom the chorda tympani was visible. It is speculated that the red discoloration is due to a viral inflammatory process and, therefore, when this sign is present in a patient with idiopathic peripheral facial paralysis, a viral neuropathy should be suspected.