Biomaterial Database

Evaluating facial paralysis. Expensive diagnostic tests are often unnecessary. 1998

M J Ruckenstein

Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Tennessee, College of Medicine, Memphis 38163, USA. mruckenstein@utmem1.utmem.edu

In most cases, the cause of facial paralysis can be determined on the basis of the clinical evaluation, and expensive diagnostic tests can be avoided. Because Bell's palsy is not always the cause, physicians need to be able to identify critical findings on history and physical examination that indicate an alternative diagnosis. Once identified, these findings can lead to a specific and directed evaluation.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D004427	Ear Diseases	Pathological processes of the ear, the hearing, and the equilibrium system of the body.	Otologic Diseases,Otological Diseases,Disease, Ear,Disease, Otologic,Disease, Otological,Ear Disease,Otologic Disease,Otological Disease
D005158	Facial Paralysis	Severe or complete loss of facial muscle motor function. This condition may result from central or peripheral lesions. Damage to CNS motor pathways from the cerebral cortex to the facial nuclei in the pons leads to facial weakness that generally spares the forehead muscles. FACIAL NERVE DISEASES generally results in generalized hemifacial weakness. NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTION DISEASES and MUSCULAR DISEASES may also cause facial paralysis or paresis.	Facial Palsy,Hemifacial Paralysis,Facial Palsy, Lower Motor Neuron,Facial Palsy, Upper Motor Neuron,Facial Paralysis, Central,Facial Paralysis, Peripheral,Facial Paresis,Lower Motor Neuron Facial Palsy,Upper Motor Neuron Facial Palsy,Central Facial Paralyses,Central Facial Paralysis,Facial Palsies,Facial Paralyses, Central,Facial Paralyses, Peripheral,Palsies, Facial,Palsy, Facial,Paralyses, Central Facial,Paralyses, Facial,Paralyses, Hemifacial,Paralysis, Central Facial,Paralysis, Facial,Paralysis, Hemifacial,Paralysis, Peripheral Facial,Pareses, Facial,Paresis, Facial,Peripheral Facial Paralysis
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man