Facial Nerve Canal Paraganglioma. (December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Arsovic, Emina; Montava, Marion; Lavieille, Jean-Pierre; Pacak, Karel; Varoquaux, Arthur; Taïeb, David
• Is Part Of: Clinical nuclear medicine. Volume 45:Number 12(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-12
• Subjects: 18F-FDOPA -- diagnostic imaging -- facial nerve -- paragangliomas; Nuclear medicine -- Periodicals; Radioisotope scanning -- Periodicals; Nuclear Medicine -- Periodicals; 616.07575
• DOI: 10.1097/RLU.0000000000003321
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0363-9762

Abstract

Abstract : Abstract: We report the case of a 72-year-old woman presenting with a progressive left peripheral facial paralysis and a facial canal mass extending through the stylomastoid foramen along the posterior edge of the parotid gland. On MRI, the early and intense enhancement was highly suggestive of paraganglioma but could not rule out a nonossifying hemangioma. Laboratory analysis showed normal plasma metanephrines. On 18 F-FDOPA PET/CT, the mass exhibited a typical paraganglioma feature with a marked tumor uptake. Our case demonstrates that 18 F-FDOPA plays a vital role in this rare entity and can avoid any further confirmatory invasive procedure.