Involvement of the spinal trigeminal nucleus secondary to herpes zoster in a patient with hemifacial redness and swelling

Abstract

We describe a 73-year-old patient who presented with marked hemifacial swelling secondary to herpes zoster. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed hyperintensity of the spinal trigeminal nucleus. In the case presented here, stimulation of the spinal trigeminal nucleus owing to herpes zoster can cause vasodilation of the facial skin.