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Vascular Loop of the Anterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery (AICA) as a Cause of Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SNHL): A Case Report

Curēus (Palo Alto, CA), 2023-08, Vol.15 (8) [Peer Reviewed Journal]

Copyright © 2023, O'Brien et al. This work is published under https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License. ;Copyright © 2023, O'Brien et al. 2023 O'Brien et al. ;ISSN: 2168-8184 ;EISSN: 2168-8184 ;DOI: 10.7759/cureus.42838

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  • Title:
    Vascular Loop of the Anterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery (AICA) as a Cause of Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SNHL): A Case Report
  • Author: O'Brien, Corinne A ; Gupta, Nithin ; Kasula, Varun ; Lamb, Meredith ; Alexander, Richard
  • Subjects: Audiometry ; Case reports ; Ears & hearing ; Family/General Practice ; Hearing loss ; Hearing protection ; Hypoxia ; Otolaryngology ; Pathophysiology ; Patients ; Steroids ; Tinnitus ; Vertigo
  • Is Part Of: Curēus (Palo Alto, CA), 2023-08, Vol.15 (8)
  • Description: Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is one of the most common causes of hearing loss worldwide. Although highly prevalent, many patients often present with SNHL of unknown cause. Related to SNHL is tinnitus, which often presents with SNHL and can have debilitating effects on patients. The idiopathic nature of SNHL and tinnitus often makes treatment difficult, however, a relatively new etiology has been suggested as a cause of SNHL and tinnitus -- vascular loops within the internal auditory canal (IAC). This report presents the case of a 36-year-old male with bilateral SNHL and tinnitus treated with oral steroids. The patient reported subjective improvement of hearing loss and tinnitus, and the audiogram demonstrated hearing improvement, except in higher frequencies. After initial treatment, MRI revealed a vascular loop of the anterior inferior cerebral artery (AICA) in the right IAC, in contact with the vestibulocochlear nerve. Thus, this case report seeks to present a conservative strategy for SNHL and tinnitus in the presence of a vascular loop of the AICA. As a controversial cause of SNHL and tinnitus, there is no standard of treatment for AICA loops of the IAC which are often treated surgically. This case highlights the importance of an initial conservative prior to surgical intervention. Thus, we seek to contribute to the growing body of literature by further elucidating the relationship between SNHL, tinnitus, and vascular loops and discussing potential pathophysiological mechanisms to guide optimal management strategies.
  • Publisher: Palo Alto: Cureus Inc
  • Language: English
  • Identifier: ISSN: 2168-8184
    EISSN: 2168-8184
    DOI: 10.7759/cureus.42838
  • Source: PubMed Central
    ProQuest Central
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