{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.030678851174934726, 'fraction_numerical': 0.020887728459530026, 'mean_word_length': 5.723684210526316, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
A case of afferent neuropathy and deafness

WHEN complaint of numbness of the face is matched by signs of sensory loss a difficult diagnostic problem arises: in its attempted solution every technique of neurological investigation may be pressed into service, the range and timing of the tests being determined by the interests and experience of the clinician. Between the extremes of the 'stone numb face' of metastatic cancer (Jefferson, 1955) and the seemingly neurotic harping of the patient with incipient trigeminal neuropathy before signs have hardened (Spillane and Wells, 1959), a vast array of disorders—tumours, strokes, infiltrations, degenerations, inflammations, anomalies, injuries— may announce their presence with trigeminal sensory paresis (Stammers, 1930; Harris, 1935; Olive and Svien, 1957; Goldstein, Gibilisco and Rushton, 1963; Horowitz, 1974; Selby, 1975). Today computerized axial tomography is the investigation of choice; but yesterday when the subject of this report was in hospital straight radiography, electroencephalography, examination of the spinal fluid, arteriography and air encephalography— and sometimes myelography—were the diagnostic tools to which the clinician could turn at cost of increasing discomfort for his patient. Not infrequently the passage of time and follow-up observation proved the best tests of all. Despite the sophistication and diagnostic superiority of the CT scan such cases will continue to appear and to baffle, and justify the publication of an isolated case-report.