What are the clinical and imaging features of Ramsay Hunt syndrome, and how does it differ from Bell's palsy?

Ramsay Hunt syndrome is characterized by herpes zoster oticus, leading to facial nerve paralysis, ear pain, and a vesicular rash around the ear. MRI may show increased enhancement of the facial nerve. Key diagnostic features include the triad of symptoms and the presence of vesicular lesions, which help differentiate it from Bell's palsy, where vesicular eruptions are absent. A common pitfall is misdiagnosing it as Bell's palsy, especially if the rash is subtle or absent.