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Abstract

Background: The cerebellopontine angle and internal auditory canal are cerebrospinal fluid filled spaces located at the posterior cranial fossa within the edges of temporal bones, the anatomical relation of anterior inferior cerebellar artery is variable within each spaces and it’s a possible etiology of an unexplained vestibular-auditory symptoms including tinnitus, vertigo, and sensory neural hearing loss, by forming vascular loops affecting the course of vestibulocochlear nerves. This condition may be detected more precisely by using high resolution 3 tesla MRI machine.Aim of the study: To compare anatomical relation of anterior inferior vascular loop and vestibulocochlear nerves in relation to vestibular-auditory symptoms. Patients and methods: This study is a cross-sectional case control including 116 adult individuals, 86 patients presented with unexplained vestibular-auditory symptoms comparing with 30 control adults who were investigated at Al-Yarmouk teaching hospital from December 2021 to October 2022. Data collected from patients through direct interview and fulfilling prepared questionnaire. MRI imaging use, 3D DRIVE thin slice T2-weighted images in order to identify the vascular loops in all individuals in relation to vestibulocochlear nerves and classify the finding through two grading systems and correlate them with patient’s symptom.Results: No statistically significant association detected between presence of different grades or types of vascular contact and any patients complaining from any audio-vestibular symptoms according to both types of included classification systems (Chavda and Gorrie).Conclusions: There are independence between MRI findings and the clinical profile, suggesting that there is no direct, exclusive relationship between the diagnosis of vascular loop on an MRI scan and the corresponding otoneurological profile.

DOI

10.52573/ipmj.2025.144615

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