Mayo Clinic doctors trained in brain and nervous system conditions (neurologists) and other doctors diagnose people who have hemifacial spasm. In Mayo Clinic's efficient system, your evaluation may be completed within days, not months.
To diagnose your condition, your doctor will conduct a physical examination and check for signs of hemifacial spasm. Your doctor may order imaging tests to diagnose your condition, determine the cause of your condition and develop the most appropriate treatment for your condition.
Your doctor may order a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test. An MRI uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create detailed images of your head and determine the cause of your hemifacial spasm. Your doctor may inject a contrast dye into a blood vessel (magnetic resonance angiogram) to look for any abnormal blood vessel that may be irritating the facial nerve.
Sept. 19, 2014
- NINDS hemifacial spasm information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/hemifacial_spasm/hemifacial_spasm.htm. Accessed Aug. 4, 2014.
- Hemifacial spasm. The Merck Manual for Health Care Professionals. http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/neurologic_disorders/neuro-phthalmologic_and_cranial_nerve_disorders/hemifacial_spasm.html. Accessed Aug. 4, 2014.
- Nguyen TT, et al. Nonepileptic paroxysmal disorders in adolescents and adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed Aug. 4, 2014.
- Cook AJ. Decision Support System. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. July 9, 2014.