TITLE:
Vascular Loops and Neuro-Otologic Symptoms: Is There Any Correlation?
AUTHORS:
Amaya Roldán-Fidalgo, Antonio Rodríguez-Valiente, Francisco Martín González, Mayte Pinilla, Almudena Trinidad, Beatriz Brea Álvarez
KEYWORDS:
Vascular Loop; Arterial Loop; Internal Auditory Canal; Tinnitus; Deafness; Vertigo
JOURNAL NAME:
International Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery,
Vol.2 No.6,
November
8,
2013
ABSTRACT:
Objective: To
determine the relationship between vascular loops in the internal auditory
canal and otologic symptoms. Methods: We performed a retrospective study, with a systematic review of the literature
and analyzed the magnetic resonances imaging (MRI) of 91 patients attended in
the ENT department since April to June 2013, in order to correlate radiological
findings with otologic symptoms. Results: Vascular loops were seen in the internal auditory canal of patients without clinical symptoms;
however an association was found between the presence of vascular compression
of the eighth nerve displayed on MRI and the presence of sensorineural hearing
loss and tinnitus. No association was found between vertigo and vascular loops. Conclusion: The presence of vascular
loops in the internal auditory canal may be an incidental finding in MRIs of
patients without clinical symptoms. However, in patients with tinnitus or sensorineural hearing loss that is
unexplained by other clinical pathologies, these may be correlated with the
existence of vascular loops which compress the eighth cranial nerve or contact
the bone wall of the internal auditory canal. Further studies involving a
larger number of patients are required to accurately evaluate the association
between these symptoms and vascular loops.