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Vertebral artery aneurysm causing contralateral cerebellopontine angle mass effect.
Peter Monksfield1, Pablo Martinez Devesa, Andrew Molyneux
1Department of Otolaryngology, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, UK. pmonksfield@talk21.com
Summary
A rare vertebral artery aneurysm mimicked a cerebellopontine angle tumor. Endovascular coiling successfully treated the aneurysm, leading to patient recovery.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Vascular Surgery
- Radiology
Background:
- Vertebral artery aneurysms can present atypically, sometimes mimicking tumors in critical locations.
- The cerebellopontine angle is a complex anatomical region where vascular and neoplastic lesions can present with similar symptoms.
Observation:
- A 70-year-old female presented with progressive right-sided sensorineural hearing loss and facial palsy.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography angiography (CTA) revealed a vertebral artery aneurysm at the cerebellopontine angle, initially suspected as a tumor.
Findings:
- The vertebral artery aneurysm was successfully treated with endovascular coiling.
- The patient experienced a satisfactory neurological recovery with no deterioration in facial nerve function at 3-month follow-up.
Implications:
- Computed tomography angiography is crucial for differentiating vascular lesions from tumors in the cerebellopontine angle.
- Endovascular coiling is an effective management strategy for intracranial aneurysms in this location, offering a minimally invasive treatment option.