Bell's Palsy and the Peril of Eponyms

The seemingly mundane management of a Bell's palsy can have devastating consequences if the diagnosis of nonidiopathic cranial nerve palsy is not kept in perspective. The case of an elderly man mislabeled by a primary care physician as having a Bell's palsy illustrates how eye physicians can prevent an adverse outcome. Unilateral incomplete eyelid exposure and ipsilateral progressive pain were this patient's main problems for roughly 18 months during which time ophthalmologists managed his corneal exposure but failed to appreciate a parotid gland tumor. Eye physicians are in a unique position to recognized if a nonidiopathic cause of seventh cranial nerve palsy exists because they manage problems with corneal exposure. Replacing Bell's palsy with the term idiopathic facial nerve palsy may heighten awareness that other causes of seventh cranial nerve palsy must be considered, but recounting an adverse outcome may also be a valuable learning experience.