INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study is to describe the morphology of the rare @entity600 that is @entity1146 of the internal auditory canal (IAC) and determine the course of the facial nerve in cases of normal facial nerve function. METHODS: Index cases were retrospectively selected from our electronic database in which all @entity389 presenting to a tertiary referral center between 1995 and 2010 are collected. Computed tomography (CT) data and magnetic resonance (MR) images were reviewed by two neuroradiologists. An otolaryngologist analyzed the @entity1 ' clinical data. RESULTS: Nine ears of six @entity1 (three bilateral, three unilateral) with @entity1146 of the IAC were identified. All @entity1 presented with sensory @entity393 . Two of these unilaterally affected @entity1 had @entity2103 . In the other seven cases of complete @entity1146 of the IAC, the facial nerve was dislocated in its cisternal segment close to the trigeminal nerve. Where the nerve fibers enter the @entity2103 takes a sharp lateral turn and enters a minute canal by which it reaches the geniculate ganglion. In the two ears with @entity2103 , this pathway could not be identified. CONCLUSIONS: In @entity1146 of the IAC, the facial nerve takes a ventral and superior course, with its own canal starting at the point where the trigeminal nerve enters the @entity4494 . @entity2103 points to absence of this aberrant temporal facial nerve canal.

Aberrant course of the intracranial facial nerve in cases of XXXX of the internal auditory canal (IAC).

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity4494 :: ('MESH:D045888', 'Disease') :: ['Gasserian ganglion'] @entity2103 :: ('MESH:D005155', 'Disease') :: ['Facial nerve palsy', 'Gasserian ganglion, the facial nerve', 'facial nerve palsy'] @entity600 :: ('MESH:D000014', 'Disease') :: ['malformation'] @entity389 :: ('MESH:D007759', 'Disease') :: ['inner ear malformations'] @entity1146 :: ('MESH:D018633', 'Disease') :: ['atresia'] @entity393 :: ('MESH:D034381', 'Disease') :: ['neural hearing loss']
@entity1146 :: (MESH:D018633,Disease) :: ['atresia']
