Background: Unilateral peripheral facial nerve palsy may have a detectable cause (secondary facial nerve palsy) or may be idiopathic (Bell’s palsy). Facial palsy is attributable to various causes ranging from mild infection to severe neurological disorders. We investigated the prevalence and types of serious neurological disorders in patients with unilateral facial palsy. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of patients with unilateral facial nerve palsy and identified patients diagnosed with facial palsy secondary to serious or life-threatening causes. We investigated the clinical characteristics, as well as electrodiagnostic and imaging findings in these patients. Results: Of 924 patients with facial palsy, 11 patients (1.2%) were diagnosed with the following serious neurological disorders: acoustic schwannoma in two patients, facial nerve schwannoma, glossopharyngeal schwannoma, meningioma, epidermoid cyst, parotid gland tumor, pontine infarct, skull base osteomyelitis, brain metastasis, and pachymeningitis. Conclusions Although unilateral facial palsy is rarely associated with serious neurological disorders, early detection of the etiopathogenetic contributors is important for prompt initiation of optimal management. Therefore, clinicians should be mindful of disorders that can mimic Bell’s palsy.

Ovarian leiomyoma is a rare type of tumor that only takes about 1% of benign ovarian tumor. It mostly does not induce any symptoms and is often found by chance during a surgical operation in abdominal cavity. It is microscopically observed that smooth muscle cells with an identical shape and a small nucleus grow in a bundle or in a storiform configuration, and they need to be distinguished from other tumors of the smooth-muscle origin that can occur in ovary such as fibroma/thecoma and extragastrointestinal stromal tumor. Using immunohistochemistry staining on desmin, smooth muscle actin (SMA), alpha-inhibin, c-kit, etc can help with distinguishing these tumors. Recently, the authors experienced in this hospital a primary ovarian leiomyoma of a 43-year-old female patient and hereby report the case with a review of literatures.
Abdominal Cavity ; Actins ; Adult ; Desmin ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Leiomyoma* ; Muscle, Smooth ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Ovary

Colonic ischemia is the most prevalent form of gastrointestinal ischemia and causes 3~9% of all acute lower intestinal bleeding. Most common cause is known to be cardiac embolus. A 67-year-old female patient presented with rectal bleeding. The patient had cerebral infarction 15 days ago. A colonoscopy showed a large ulcer with hemorrhage in the rectum. Computed tomography showed deep vein thrombosis from the left popliteal vein to infrarenal inferior vena cava. Transthoracic echocardiography was carried out, but no abnormal feature was found. Then, transesophageal echocardiography, with agitated saline contrast to find out a right to left shunt, was performed, patent foramen ovale was found. This patient was treated with anticoagulation and inferior vena cava filtering. We suggest this ischemic colitis may be due to arterial embolization from deep vein thrombosis through PFO.
Aged ; Cerebral Infarction ; Colitis, Ischemic* ; Colon ; Colonoscopy ; Dihydroergotamine ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Embolism ; Female ; Foramen Ovale, Patent* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Popliteal Vein ; Rectum ; Ulcer ; Vena Cava, Inferior ; Venous Thrombosis*