Spanish 
Chinese 
Russian 
German 
French 
Japanese 
Portuguese 
Hindi Case Report
Imaging of Auriculotemporal Nerve Perineural Spread
| Michael Chan1, Adam A Dmytriw1, Eric Bartlett2 and Eugene Yu1* | |
| 1Department of Medical Imaging, University Health Network, 101 College St, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada | |
| 2Room 3-956 Princess Margaret Hospital, University Health Network, 610 University Ave, Toronto, ON, M5T 2M9, Canada | |
| Corresponding Author : | Eugene Yu Room 3-979 Princess Margaret Hospital University Health Network 610 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5T 2M9, Canada Tel: 416-946-4501 Fax: 416-946-6564 E-mail: eugene.yu@uhn.ca |
| Received July 11, 2013; Accepted July 29, 2013; Published August 05, 2013 | |
| Citation: Chan M, Dmytriw AA, Bartlett E, Yu E (2013) Imaging of Auriculotemporal Nerve Perineural Spread. OMICS J Radiology 2:135. doi: 10.4172/2167-7964.1000135 | |
| Copyright: © 2013 Chan M, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. | |
Abstract
Importance: Adenoid cystic carcinomas are relatively rare tumors, notorious for wide local infiltration and perineural spread. Perineural extension commonly occurs along branches of the trigeminal and facial nerves, and its presence represents a poor prognostic factor with implications upon treatment approach. Observations: We report a case of a 61-years-old female presenting with worsening left facial numbness and weakness. On magnetic resonance imaging, the patient was found to have perineural spread of a left parotid tumor along the auriculotemporal nerve. There was involvement of the V2 and V3 branches of the trigeminal nerve. An ultrasoundguided biopsy of the mass demonstrated adenoid cystic carcinoma. Conclusions and relevance: The auriculotemporal nerve may serve as a route for tumor spread, particularly in the setting of head and neck malignancy. Moreover, this particular suspicion should be raised when patients with known malignancy experience concomitant trigeminal (V) and facial (VII) nerve dysfunction.
