Vascular Loops and Neuro-Otologic Symptoms: Is There Any Correlation?

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 pa-tients 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 sen-sorineural 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 symp-toms and vascular loops.