Facial nerve enhancement in MR imaging.

The significance of facial nerve enhancement after IV gadolinium administration has not been determined. We evaluated the MR appearance of facial nerves (nonenhanced and enhanced) in patients without and with masses involving the temporal bone, internal auditory canal, or cerebellopontine angle. In patients without such masses, no facial nerve enhancement was seen. In the other group, four of 11 patients showed facial nerve enhancement and geniculate ganglion masses. Three of these four patients had neurofibromatosis; one had surgical verification of a facial nerve neurofibroma. Enhanced MR facilitates identification of abnormal facial nerves.