Evaluation of the early phase of Bell’s palsy using 3 T MRI

摘要: This prospective study on Bell’s palsy investigated the value of 3 T MRI as a diagnostic tool to evaluate pathophysiological changes (i.e. edema) facial nerve segments and possibility differentiate patients with high risk for incomplete recovery from who recover completely within 3 days after symptoms onset. For this institutional review board approved investigation, thirty (14 male, 16 female, mean age 44 years) underwent pre postcontrast cerebellopontine angle. T1-weighted imaging was performed (TR 20.0 ms, TE 2.46 ms, isotropic voxel size: 0.6 mm). Region-of-interest measurements were healthy paralyzed side. To obtain normalized values, signal intensity increase percentage (SIIP) values divided by contralateral results Signal examined compared using Wilcoxon Mann–Whitney U tests correlated clinical findings categorized House–Brackmann score. The lesion side showed significantly higher intensities in premeatal segment before contrast agent administration (P   0.05). According our results, early palsy-associated might also be related accumulation proteins not exclusively edema. However, enhancement quantification suitable distinguish different prognostic groups.