Neurinomas of the facial nerve are rare tumors. To my knowledge, only 20 cases have been recorded in the medical literature. Because of the rarity of this type of tumor, two additional cases will be reported. In one, the clinical course is believed to be unique. The other is thought to be the first case to be reported of neurinoma of the facial nerve in a patient who also had a neurinoma of the eighth cranial nerve.
Report of Cases
Case 1.—A white woman 59 years old was seen on Dec. 24, 1955, because of severe constant pain, deafness, and drainage from the left ear. She was aware of a throbbing sensation in the ear which appeared to be synchronous with her heart beat. The pain had been present for approximately two years but during the past year had become progressively severer and on admission it was almost unbearable.About