#march2020mccqe1
A 45-year-old man has an obvious mass on the right side of his face. It is determined that he has a benign tumor of the parotid gland, and the tumor is excised. After surgical excision of the tumor, it is noted that the patient’s mouth droops on the right side and, when asked to smile, his smile is asymmetrical. The patient is able to open and close both eyes normally and can wrinkle his forehead symmetrically and raise both eyebrows. Sensation is normal on both sides of his face. Which of the following is the most likely cause of the findings?
(A) Damage to branches of the mental nerve
(B) Damage to branches of the infraorbital nerve
(C) Damage to branches of the facial nerve
(D) Damage to branches of the glossopharyngeal nerve
(E) Damage to branches of the hypoglossal nerve
A 45-year-old man has an obvious mass on the right side of his face. It is determined that he has a benign tumor of the parotid gland, and the tumor is excised. After surgical excision of the tumor, it is noted that the patient’s mouth droops on the right side and, when asked to smile, his smile is asymmetrical. The patient is able to open and close both eyes normally and can wrinkle his forehead symmetrically and raise both eyebrows. Sensation is normal on both sides of his face. Which of the following is the most likely cause of the findings?
(A) Damage to branches of the mental nerve
(B) Damage to branches of the infraorbital nerve
(C) Damage to branches of the facial nerve
(D) Damage to branches of the glossopharyngeal nerve
(E) Damage to branches of the hypoglossal nerve
