Adult brainstem gliomas are a rare group of heterogeneous brain tumors. Classical clinical presentation includes progressive impairment of cranial nerves associated with long tract signs. The prognosis and response to treatment are poor; nevertheless, some patients do have a long survival. The objective of this study was to describe a series of patients with an isolated persistent hemifacial spasm and/or facial nerve palsy as the presenting symptom of a brainstem glioma.

Fourteen patients from 3 French hospitals (Paris, Caen, Lille) were included. Clinical and radiological features and overall survival were retrospectively analyzed. A review of the literature of similar cases was performed.

Mean age at diagnosis was 35 years (range 19–57 years). Mean duration of facial nerve involvement before diagnosis was 17 months (range 1–48 months). Tumors were characterized on MRI by a lateralized location in the pons, a T1-weighted hyposignal, a T2-weighted hypersignal and no contrast enhancement after Gadolinium injection except for 2 cases. Biopsies were performed in 10 cases and showed 8 low-grade and 2 high-grade gliomas. All the patients were initially treated with radiotherapy and 6 patients with chemotherapy after progression. Eleven patients died from tumor progression. Median survival time was 90 months.

Adult brainstem gliomas revealed by a progressive isolated involvement of the facial nerve seem to have particular clinico-radiological features of slow progressive tumors and may be associated with long patient survival.