Brain stem lesions in a newborn with unilateral facial palsy

Purpose/Background: Neonatal facial palsy can be caused by cerebral, nuclear, nerval, neuromuscular or muscle disorders. Unilateral facial weakness following injury to facial nerve is a common manifestation of perinatal trauma (1). Disorders of nucleus of facial nerve are usually bilateral; facial diplegia combined with bilateral abducens palsy is called Möbius Syndrome. In Möbius Syndrome calcified lesions of the pons (secondary to early fetal infarction) have been described using ultrasound, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), whereas MRI may miss the lesions (1,2). Material and methods: W…