Magnetic resonance imaging in patients with Bell's palsy.

Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and the brain stem was performed in 18 patients with complete acute peripheral facial palsy and diagnosed as Bell's palsy. In five patients T2 weighted images revealed regions of high signal intensity in the cerebral white matter and/or in the brain stem. The changes indicate that in cases of Bell's palsy the central nervous system may be involved and the disease may be related to microvascular or demyelinating disorder.