Patients that experience facial paralysis should all be first ruled out for more serious causes. Typically this includes diagnostic imaging with a CT scan or MRI. Testing may also include blood tests. If those are all negative, and history and physical exam signs and symptoms are indicative of Bell’s palsy, it is unlikely that a tumor or stroke is the cause. However, if the paralysis is complete and there is no improvement after 6 months, it is very important to repeat testing and diagnostic imaging to confirm that a tumor was not present during the initial presentation.