Macroscopic and ultrastructural findings in some diseases of the facial nerve.

The authors describe the findings observed in: 10 cases of Bell's palsy, 1 case of traumatic facial paralysis, 1 case of congenital facial paralysis, and 1 case of Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome. The chorda tympani nerve of these patients was studied, employing the electron microscope, comparing it with that of 5 patients having otosclerosis. Our ultrastructural findings appear to confirm that the chorda tympani nerve presents a similar degenerative behaviour in those diseases studied by us. The degenerative stages range from a lesser to greater degree in the following order: Bell's palsy, traumatic facial paralysis, congenital facial paralysis, Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome.