A Rare Case of Primary Paraganglioma of the Facial Nerve Canal.

Abstract

We report the case of a 54‑year‑old woman with 3‑year‑history of right facial paralysis. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings were highly suggestive of a primary paraganglioma (PGL) of the facial nerve canal (FNC). ⁶⁸Ga‑DOTATATE positron emission tomography (PET)/CT confirmed the neuroendocrine nature of the tumor. Teaching point: The combined imaging findings of permeative bone destruction, rapid wash‑in and wash‑out perfusion, and ⁶⁸Ga‑DOTATATE tracer uptake in a lesion arising from the mastoid segment of the FNC are diagnostic of a primary PGL of the FNC and may obviate the need for histological confirmation.