Vascular cross-compression of the VIIth and VIIIth cranial nerves

A 53-year-old male patient had been suffering from severe aural symptoms (pulsatile right-sided tinnitus and paroxysmal dizziness attacks with nausea) and right hemifacial spasm. Treatment had involved stellate ganglion block with lignocaine and the injection of intravenous sodium bicarbonate solution for attacks of Menière's syndrome and facial nerve block with lidocaine for hemi-facial spasm. Despite these treatments, the dizzy attacks became more frequent, developing into the clustering state. Air CT cisternography and vertebral angiography demonstrated an enlarged and curved vertebral artery. Vascular cross-compression of the VIIth and VIIIth cranial nerves was therefore suspected. Microvascular decompression was performed. After operation, the pulsatile tinnitus, dizziness and hemifacial spasm disappeared. From the present case and a review of the literature, we conclude that vascular cross-compression of the VIIIth cranial nerve should be an indication for microvascular decompression only when symptoms of vascular cross-compression of the VIIth cranial nerve are also seen.