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In Vivo Morphometric Analysis of Human Cranial Nerves Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Menière's Disease Ears and Normal Hearing Ears
Published on: February 21, 2018
Radiographic analysis of cochlear nerve vascular compression
Julie M Clift1, Robert D Wong, Gregory M Carney
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33612, USA.
The Annals of Otology, Rhinology, and Laryngology
|June 25, 2009
Summary
Vascular compression by the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) does not correlate with asymmetric hearing loss. Decreased cochlear nerve diameter in symptomatic ears suggests alternative causes for hearing impairment.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Otolaryngology
- Radiology
Background:
- Asymmetric hearing loss is a common clinical presentation.
- Vascular compression of cranial nerves is a potential, yet debated, cause of sensorineural hearing loss.
- The anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) is implicated in compression of the cochleovestibular nerve.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between AICA vascular compression and asymmetric hearing loss.
- To determine if AICA compression relates to the symptomatic ear or cochlear nerve diameter.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective case-control study.
- Inclusion criteria: audiometric asymmetry (20 dB at one frequency, 10 dB at two frequencies, or 20% word recognition score difference).
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessed AICA contact; cochlear nerve cross-sectional area was measured. Excluded: vestibular schwannoma, Meniere's disease.
Main Results:
- Symptomatic ears showed a correlation with decreased cochlear nerve diameter.
- No correlation was found between AICA penetration into the internal auditory canal and hearing loss.
- AICA vascular compression did not correlate with cochlear nerve diameter.
Conclusions:
- Anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) vascular compression does not appear to be directly correlated with asymmetric hearing loss or cochlear nerve diameter.
- The observed decrease in cochlear nerve diameter in symptomatic ears suggests that other mechanisms may be responsible for asymmetric hearing loss.
