Severe neurovascular hypertension in a 17-year-old girl cured by microvascular decompression

We report a rare case of centrally caused hypertension in a 17-year-old adolescent due to neurovascular compression of the root entry/exit zone of the ninth/tenth cranial nerves of the rostral ventrolateral medulla oblongata on the left side. The patient underwent a comprehensive diagnostic workup to exclude other causes of secondary hypertension. A cranial magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) indicated a neurovascular compression. The patient underwent microvascular decompression (MVD) twice. After the first MVD, blood pressure values significantly decreased to normotensive levels without any antihypertensive medication. After one year without clinical symptoms, the patient experienced recurrent hypertension and underwent a second MVD. Again, the blood pressure normalized without any medication or clinical symptoms within six-month follow-up. This case report highlights neurovascular compression at brainstem level as an important differential diagnosis of centrally caused hypertension, even in the absence of specific cranial nerve deficits. MVD is an effective treatment option.