Magnetic resonance imaging based classification of anatomic relationship between the cochleovestibular nerve and anterior inferior cerebellar artery in patients with non-specific neuro-otologic symptoms

Sirikci A., Bayazit Y., Ozer E., Ozkur A., ADALETLİ İ., Cuce M., ...Daha Fazla

SURGICAL AND RADIOLOGIC ANATOMY, cilt.27, sa.6, ss.531-535, 2005 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 27 Sayı: 6
  • Basım Tarihi: 2005
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s00276-005-0015-6
  • Dergi Adı: SURGICAL AND RADIOLOGIC ANATOMY
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.531-535
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: neurovascular compression, cerebellopontine angle, anterior inferior cerebellar artery, vestibulocochlear nerve, MICROVASCULAR DECOMPRESSION, CEREBELLOPONTINE ANGLE, VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR NERVE, MICROSURGICAL ANATOMY, CRANIAL NERVES
  • Gazi Üniversitesi Adresli: Hayır

Özet

In this study, we aimed to assess anatomical relationship between the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) and cochleovestibular nerve (CNV) in patients with non-specific cochleovestibular symptoms using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). One-hundred and forty patients with non-specific neuro-otologic symptoms were assessed using cranial and temporal MRI. Classification was performed according to four different types of anatomical relationship observed between the AICA and CVN. In type 1 (point compression), the AICA compresses only a limited portion of the CVN. In type 2 (longitudinal compression), the AICA approaches the CVN as both traverse parallel to each other. In type 3 (loop compression), the vascular loop of the AICA encircles the CVN. In type 4 (indentation), the AICA compresses the CVN so as to make an indentation in the nerve. The anatomical relationship between the CVN and AICA was encountered in 19 out of 140 (13.6%) patients (20 ears). The VCC was unilateral in 18 patients (94.7%) and bilateral in one patient (5.3%). There was no other vascular structure causing VCC to the CVN except for vertebral artery that was seen in 2 out of 140 patients (1.4%). These were unilateral cases. There were tinnitus, vertigo or dizziness, hearing loss, and both hearing loss and vertigo in 5 (25%), 13 (65%), 1 (5%) and 1 (5%) ears of 20 patients, respectively. There was no relationship between the cochleovestibular symptoms and type of compression (p > 0.05). Neurovascular relationship between the CVN and AICA can be imaged properly using MR and MR based classification may help reporting this relationship in a standard way. Although, MR images can show the anatomical relationship accurately, diagnosis of vascular conflict should not be based on imaging findings alone.