Atypical findings in cephalic herpes zoster polyneuritis: case reports and radiographic findings.

The purpose of this presentation is to report six patients who were seen because of multiple cranial nerve deficits occurring within a clinical picture of herpes zoster of the head and trunk. The clinical behavior, diagnostic methods, treatment, and outcome of the patients in this series are reviewed. The vagus and cochleovestibular nerves were affected in all of the patients. Three patients had radiographic evidence of a mass in the nasopharyngeal region. Malignancies were ruled out by repeated biopsies.