Brainstem auditory evoked potential abnormalities in vascular malformations of the posterior fossa

Recent reports indicate that malformations of arteries and veins in the posterior fossa are a common cause of facial spasm and trigeminal neuralgia. More rarely they may also cause facial nerve paresis and hearing loss. When vascular malformations are present, brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) sometimes show abnormalities similar to those usually recorded in patients with tumours in the cerebellopontine angle. In three patients with facial spasm, one with trigeminal neuralgia and one with facial paresis pathologically delayed absolute latencies and/or interpeak latencies of BAEPs associated with vascular malformations were found. It is concluded that those BAEP abnormalities associated with tumours in the posterior fossa may also be caused by vascular malformations. BAEPs are valuable aids to the diagnosis of such malformations.