MAST CELLS IN THE TYMPANIC PART OF THE FACIAL NERVE IN CHRONIC OTITIS MEDIA WITHOUT ASSOCIATED FACIAL PARALYSIS

The occurrence of mast cells is studied in the normal facial nerve and in the facial nerve post mortem exam of patients with chronic suppurative otitis media without associated facial paralysis. A small number of mast cells were found in the normal facial nerve. These cells were usually located in close proximity to the endoneural and epineural blood vessels. The number of mast cells was increased in some areas of the facial nerve in the majority of examined cases with chronic otitis media. In these cases, although the facial nerve showed some signs of neuropathy, its function was normal.