Bilateral Facial Palsy: A Case Study of an Exceedingly Rare and Difficult Diagnosis

Cureus. 2021 Oct 19;13(10):e18900. doi: 10.7759/cureus.18900. eCollection 2021 Oct.

Abstract

Bilateral facial nerve palsy is a rare condition, representing only 0.3-2.0% of all facial palsy cases. Facial paralysis constitutes the result of a diverse array of systemic disorders and heterogeneous aetiologies and thus represents a diagnostic challenge. This case report describes a previously healthy male who presented to the emergency department numerous times within a few weeks with unrelated non-specific symptoms. These symptoms could not be attributed to any specific aetiology after various radiological and laboratory examinations, and hence presented a diagnostic dilemma until he developed bilateral seventh nerve palsy and was admitted for a further workup.

Keywords: bell’s palsy; bilateral facial palsy; heerfordt; sarcoidosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports