Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

LIVE: Thursday 27th June 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)
Join our expert panel to discover why you need to understand the drivers of non-adherence in your patients, and how you can optimize medication adherence in your clinics to drastically improve patient outcomes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
European Journal of Medical Research
Published in: European Journal of Medical Research 1/2023

Open Access 01-12-2023 | Vestibular Schwannoma | Review

Facial nerve in skullbase tumors: imaging and clinical relevance

Authors: Longping Yao, Baoyan Wang, Fengfei Lu, Xiaozheng He, Guohui Lu, Shizhong Zhang

Published in: European Journal of Medical Research | Issue 1/2023

Login to get access

Abstract

Facial nerve, the 7th cranial nerve, is a mixed nerve composed of sensory and motor fibers, and its main branch is situated in the cerebellopontine angle. Facial nerve dysfunction is a debilitating phenomenon that can occur in skullbase tumors and Bell’s pals. Recovery of the facial nerve dysfunction after surgery for skullbase tumors can be disappointing, but is usually favorable in Bell’s palsy. Advances in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allow to visualize the facial nerve and its course in the cerebellopontine angle, also when a large tumor is present and compresses the nerve. Here, we describe the anatomical, neurochemical and clinical aspects of the facial nerve and highlight the recent progress in visualizing the facial nerve with MRI.
Literature
1.
Hassan AU, Hassan G, Rasool Z. Vestibular schwannoma: anatomical, medical and surgical perspective. Int J Res Med Sci. 2017;1:178–82.CrossRef
2.
Wolfswinkel EM, Landau MJ, Ravina K, Kokot NC, Russin JJ, Carey JN. EC-IC bypass for cerebral revascularization following skull base tumor resection: current practices and innovations. J Surg Oncol. 2018;118:815–25.PubMedCrossRef
3.
Gupta S, Mends F, Hagiwara M, Fatterpekar G, Roehm PC. Imaging the facial nerve: a contemporary review. Radiol Res Pract. 2013;2013: 248039.PubMedPubMedCentral
4.
Iijima K, Tajika Y, Tanaka Y, Yorifuji H, Yoshimoto Y. Microanatomy around the facial nerve pathway for microvascular decompression surgery investigated with correlative light microscopy and block-face imaging. World Neurosurg. 2018;118:e526–33.PubMedCrossRef
5.
Koroulakis DJ, Reilly BK, Whitehead MT. Cochlear–facial dehiscence in a pediatric patient. Pediatr Radiol. 2020;50(5):750–2.PubMedCrossRef
6.
McKinney AM. Cranial Nerve VII: Normal contrast enhancement on magnetic resonance imaging. In: Atlas of normal imaging variations of the brain, skull, and craniocervical vasculature. Springer; 2017:43–57.
7.
Sartoretti T, Sartoretti E, Binkert C, Czell D, Sartoretti-Schefer S. Intraneural hemorrhage in traumatic oculomotor nerve palsy. Radiol Case Rep. 2017;12(1):150–3.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
8.
9.
Tomii M, Onoue H, Yasue M, Tokudome S, Abe T. Microscopic measurement of the facial nerve root exit zone from central glial myelin to peripheral Schwann cell myelin. J Neurosurg. 2003;99:121–4.PubMedCrossRef
10.
11.
Kochhar A, Larian B, Azizzadeh B. Facial nerve and parotid gland anatomy. Otolaryngol Clin N Am. 2016;49(2):273–84.CrossRef
12.
Jager L, Reiser M. CT and MR imaging of the normal and pathologic conditions of the facial nerve. Eur J Radiol. 2001;40:133–46.PubMedCrossRef
13.
Radhakrishnan R, Ahmed S, Tilden JC, Morales H. Comparison of normal facial nerve enhancement at 3T MRI using gadobutrol and gadopentetate dimeglumine. Neuroradiol J. 2017;30(6):554–60.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
14.
Haneda J, Ishikawa K, Okamoto K. Better continuity of the facial nerve demonstrated in the temporal bone on three-dimensional T1-weighted imaging with volume isotropic turbo spin echo acquisition than that with fast field echo at 3.0 tesla MRI. J Med Imaging Radiat Oncol. 2019;63:745–50.PubMedCrossRef
15.
Singh AK, Bathla G, Altmeyer W, Tiwari R, Valencia MP, Bazan C 3rd, Tantiwongkosi B. Imaging spectrum of facial nerve lesions. Curr Probl Diagn Radiol. 2015;44:60–75.PubMedCrossRef
16.
Yetiser S. Large intratemporal facial nerve schwannoma without facial palsy: surgical strategy of tumor removal and functional reconstruction. J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg. 2018;79:528–32.PubMedCrossRef
17.
18.
Xu F, Pan S, Alonso F, Dekker SE, Bambakidis NC. Intracranial facial nerve schwannomas: current management and review of literature. World Neurosurg. 2017;100:444–9.PubMedCrossRef
19.
McRackan TR, Wilkinson EP, Rivas A. Primary tumors of the facial nerve. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2015;48:491–500.PubMedCrossRef
20.
Sasaki A, Miyazaki S, Hori T. Extracranial facial nerve schwannoma treated by hypo-fractionated cyberknife radiosurgery. Cureus. 2016;8: e797.PubMedPubMedCentral
21.
Amano T, Sangatsuda Y, Hata N, Inoue D, Mori M, Nakamizo A, Yoshimoto K, Mizoguchi M, Sasaki T. Facial nerve schwannoma arising from the cerebellopontine angle. Neurol Med Chir. 2013;53:242–4.CrossRef
22.
Wagner JS, Sauer D, Andersen PE, Hamilton BE. Imaging and clinical characteristics of parotid facial nerve schwannoma. Neurographics. 2016;6(1):33–8.CrossRef
23.
Tsang GF, Hassannia F, Yu E, Rutka JJO, Neurotology: Imaging case of the month. 2018;39.
24.
Venkatasamy A, Nicolas-Ong C, Vuong H, Charpiot A, Veillon F. Extension patterns of vestibular schwannomas towards the middle ear: three new cases and review of the literature. Eur Arch Oto-Rhino-Laryngol. 2019;276:969–76.CrossRef
25.
Zou J, Hirvonen T. “Wait and scan” management of patients with vestibular schwannoma and the relevance of non-contrast MRI in the follow-up. J Otol. 2017;12:174–84.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
26.
Rizk AR, Mehlitz M, Bettag M. Chances of improvement in cases of vestibular schwannoma presenting with facial nerve weakness: presentation of two cases and literature review. J Neurol Surg Part B Skull base. 2019;80:40–5.CrossRef
27.
Khatri D, Bhaisora KS, Parab A, Srivastava AK, Das KK. Unusual delayed presentation of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome following vestibular schwannoma surgery: a rare neurologic emergency. World Neurosurg. 2018;120:532–6.PubMedCrossRef
28.
Tikka T, Yiannakis CP, Stapleton E, Locke R, Crowther JA, Taylor WA, Kontorinis G. Spontaneous vestibular schwannoma regression: a case–control study. Otol Neurotol. 2018;39(10):e1118–24.PubMedCrossRef
29.
Hill FC, Grenness A, Withers S, Iseli C, Briggs R. Cochlear patency after translabyrinthine vestibular schwannoma surgery. Otol Neurotol. 2018;39(7):e575–8.PubMedCrossRef
30.
Yang X, Liu J, Zhang Y, Richard SA. Tumor-associated hemorrhage in patients with vestibular schwannoma. Acta Neurochirurg. 2018;160:1563–9.CrossRef
31.
Strasilla C, Sychra V. Bildgebende Diagnostik des Vestibularisschwannoms. HNO. 2016;5(65):373–80.
32.
Buch K, Juliano A, Stankovic KM, Curtin HD, Cunnane MB. Noncontrast vestibular schwannoma surveillance imaging including an MR cisternographic sequence: is there a need for postcontrast imaging? J Neurosurg. 2018;131(2):549–54.PubMedCrossRef
33.
Montaser AS, Todeschini AB, Harris MS, Adunka OF, Prevedello DM. Role of endoscopy in resection of intracanalicular vestibular schwannoma via middle fossa approach: technical nuances. World Neurosurg. 2018;120:395–9.PubMedCrossRef
34.
Hirokawa D, Usami K, Hong S, Ogiwara H. Pediatric intracranial lower cranial nerve schwannoma unassociated with neurofibromatosis type 2: case report and review of the literature. Child’s Nervous Syst. 2019;35:1041–4.CrossRef
35.
Wagner F, Herrmann E, Wiest R, Raabe A, Bernasconi C, Caversaccio M, Vibert D. 3D-constructive interference into steady state (3D-CISS) labyrinth signal alteration in patients with vestibular schwannoma. Auris Nasus Larynx. 2018;45:702–10.PubMedCrossRef
36.
Song F, Hou Y, Sun G, Chen X, Xu B, Huang JH, Zhang J. In vivo visualization of the facial nerve in patients with acoustic neuroma using diffusion tensor imaging-based fiber tracking. J Neurosurg. 2016;125:787–94.PubMedCrossRef
37.
Kabasawa H, Masutani Y, Aoki S, Abe O, Masumoto T, Hayashi N, Ohtomo K. 3T PROPELLER diffusion tensor fiber tractography: a feasibility study for cranial nerve fiber tracking. Radiat Med. 2007;25:462–6.PubMedCrossRef
38.
Baro V, Landi A, Brigadoi S, Castellaro M, Moretto M, Anglani M, Ermani M, Causin F, Zanoletti E, Denaro L, Bertoldo A. Preoperative prediction of facial nerve in patients with vestibular schwannomas: the role of diffusion tensor imaging—a systematic review. World Neurosurg. 2019;125:24–31.
39.
Samala R, Borkar SA, Sharma R, Garg A, Suri A, Gupta D, Kale SS. Effectiveness of preoperative facial nerve diffusion tensor imaging tractography for preservation of facial nerve function in surgery for large vestibular schwannomas: Results of a prospective randomized study. Neurol India. 2019;67:149–54.PubMed
40.
Ung N, Mathur M, Chung LK, Cremer N, Pelargos P, Frew A, Thill K, Mathur I, Voth B, Lim M, Yang I. A systematic analysis of the reliability of diffusion tensor imaging tractography for facial nerve imaging in patients with vestibular Schwannoma. J Neurol Surg Part B Skull Base. 2016;77:314–8.CrossRef
41.
Hasegawa T, Kato T, Kida Y, Hayashi M, Tsugawa T, Iwai Y, Sato M, Okamoto H, Kano T, Osano S, Nagano O. Gamma Knife surgery for patients with facial nerve schwannomas: a multiinstitutional retrospective study in Japan. J Neurosurg. 2016;124(2):403–10.PubMedCrossRef
42.
Sheehan JP, Kano H, Xu Z, Chiang V, Mathieu D, Chao S, Akpinar B, Lee JY, James BY, Hess J, Wu HM. Gamma knife radiosurgery for facial nerve schwannomas: a multicenter study. J Neurosurg. 2015;123(2):387–94.PubMedCrossRef
43.
Shi W, Jain V, Kim H, Champ C, Jain G, Farrell C, Andrews DW, Judy K, Liu H, Artz G, Werner-Wasik M. Fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy for facial nerve schwannomas. J Neurol Surg Part B Skull Base. 2016;77(01):075–80.
44.
Carlson ML, Deep NL, Patel NS, Lundy LB, Tombers NM, Lohse CM, Link MJ, Driscoll CL. Facial nerve schwannomas: review of 80 cases over 25 years at Mayo Clinic. In Mayo Clinic Proceedings 2016 (Vol. 91, No. 11, pp. 1563–76). Elsevier.
45.
Quesnel AM, Santos F. Evaluation and management of facial nerve schwannoma. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2018;51:1179–92.PubMedCrossRef
46.
McRackan TR, Wilkinson EP, Brackmann DE, Slattery WH. Stereotactic radiosurgery for facial nerve schwannomas: meta-analysis and clinical review. Otol Neurotol. 2015;36(3):393–8.PubMedCrossRef
47.
Tuleasca C, Régis J, Sahgal A, De Salles A, Hayashi M, Ma L, Martínez-Álvarez R, Paddick I, Ryu S, Slotman BJ, Levivier M. Stereotactic radiosurgery for trigeminal neuralgia: a systematic review. J Neurosurg. 2018;130:733–57.PubMedCrossRef
48.
Moon JH, Chang WS, Jung HH, Lee KS, Park YG, Chang JH. Gamma knife surgery for facial nerve schwannomas. J Neurosurg. 2014;121:116–22.PubMedCrossRef
49.
Fezeu F, Lee C-C, Dodson BK, Mukherjee S, Przybylowski CJ, Awad AJ, Xu Z, Ball BZ, Basuel D, Schlesinger D. Stereotactic radiosurgery for facial nerve schwannomas: a preliminary assessment and review of the literature. Br J Neurosurg. 2015;29:213–8.PubMedCrossRef
50.
Sheehan JP, Kano H, Xu Z, Chiang V, Mathieu D, Chao S, Akpinar B, Lee JY, Yu JB, Hess J, et al. Gamma Knife radiosurgery for facial nerve schwannomas: a multicenter study. J Neurosurg. 2015;123:387–94.PubMedCrossRef
51.
Litre CF, Gourg GP, Tamura M, Mdarhri D, Touzani A, Roche PH, Régis J. Gamma knife surgery for facial nerve schwannomas. Neurosurgery. 2007;60:853–9.PubMedCrossRef
52.
Van Gompel JJ, Agazzi S, Carlson ML, Adewumi DA, Hadjipanayis CG, Uhm JH, Olson JJ. Congress of neurological surgeons systematic review and evidence-based guidelines on emerging therapies for the treatment of patients with vestibular schwannomas. Neurosurgery. 2018;82:E52-e54.PubMedCrossRef
53.
Wu H, Zhang L, Han D, Mao Y, Yang J, Wang Z, Jia W, Zhong P, Jia H. Summary and consensus in 7th International Conference on acoustic neuroma: An update for the management of sporadic acoustic neuromas. World J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg. 2016;2(04):234–9.
54.
DeHart AN, Broaddus WC, Coelho DH. Translabyrinthine vestibular schwannoma resection with simultaneous cochlear implantation. Cochlear Implants Int. 2017;18:278–84.PubMedCrossRef
55.
Mazzoni A, Zanoletti E, Denaro L, Martini A, Avella D. Retrolabyrinthine meatotomy as part of retrosigmoid approach to expose the whole internal auditory canal: rationale, technique, and outcome in hearing preservation surgery for vestibular schwannoma. Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown, MD). 2018;14:36–44.CrossRef
56.
Kaul V, Cosetti MK. Management of vestibular schwannoma (including NF2): facial nerve considerations. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2018;51:1193–212.PubMedCrossRef
57.
Raheja A, Bowers CA, MacDonald JD, Shelton C, Gurgel RK, Brimley C, Couldwell WT. Middle fossa approach for vestibular schwannoma: good hearing and facial nerve outcomes with low morbidity. World Neurosurg. 2016;92:37–46.PubMedCrossRef
58.
Prell J, Strauss C, Plontke SK, Rampp S. Intraoperative monitoring of the facial nerve: vestibular schwannoma surgery. HNO. 2017;65:404–12.PubMedCrossRef
59.
Bretonnier M, Bernard F, Tinois J, Troude L, Cebula H, Godey B, Morandi X. Functional sparing surgery policy for giant vestibular schwannomas. Clin Otolaryngol. 2020;45(5):762–7.PubMedCrossRef
60.
Mehta GU, Lekovic GP, Maxwell AK, Brackmann DE, Slattery WH. Effect of vestibular schwannoma size and nerve of origin on posterior external auditory canal sensation: a prospective observational study. Otol Neurotol. 2020;41(9):e1145–8.PubMedCrossRef
61.
Mastronardi L, Cacciotti G, Roperto R, Di Scipio E, Tonelli MP, Carpineta E. Position and course of facial nerve and postoperative facial nerve results in vestibular schwannoma microsurgery. World neurosurgery. 2016;94:174–80.PubMedCrossRef
62.
Bhimrao SK, Le TN, Dong CC, Makarenko S, Wongprasartsuk S, Westerberg BD, Akagami R. Role of facial nerve motor-evoked potential ratio in predicting facial nerve function in vestibular schwannoma surgery both immediate and at 1 year. Otol Neurotol. 2016;37(8):1162–7.PubMedCrossRef
63.
Frigeni B, Bivona R, Foresti C, Guazzo E, Danesi G. Predictive value of preoperative and intraoperative neurophysiology in evaluating long-term facial function outcome in acoustic neuroma surgery. Otol Neurotol. 2020;41(4):530–6.PubMedCrossRef
64.
Savardekar AR, Patra DP, Thakur JD, Narayan V, Mohammed N, Bollam P, Nanda A. Preoperative diffusion tensor imaging-fiber tracking for facial nerve identification in vestibular schwannoma: a systematic review on its evolution and current status with a pooled data analysis of surgical concordance rates. Neurosurg Focus. 2018;44:E5.PubMedCrossRef
65.
Matsushima K, Kohno M, Nakajima N. Hearing preservation in vestibular schwannoma surgery via retrosigmoid transmeatal approach. Acta Neurochir. 2019;161:2265–9.PubMedCrossRef
Metadata
Title
Facial nerve in skullbase tumors: imaging and clinical relevance
Authors
Longping Yao
Baoyan Wang
Fengfei Lu
Xiaozheng He
Guohui Lu
Shizhong Zhang
Publication date
01-12-2023
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
European Journal of Medical Research / Issue 1/2023
Electronic ISSN: 2047-783X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-023-01078-7

Other articles of this Issue 1/2023

European Journal of Medical Research 1/2023 Go to the issue

Research

Triosephosphate isomerase 1 may be a risk predictor in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma: a multi-centered study integrating bulk RNA, single-cell RNA, and protein immunohistochemistry

Research

Identification and validation of core genes for type 2 diabetes mellitus by integrated analysis of single-cell and bulk RNA-sequencing

Review

Dysregulated cholesterol regulatory genes in hepatocellular carcinoma

Research

Prediction of survival and immunotherapy response by the combined classifier of G protein-coupled receptors and tumor microenvironment in melanoma

Research

Reliability of point-of-care ultrasound to evaluate fluid tolerance performed by critical care residents

Review

Nanotechnology development in surgical applications: recent trends and developments