Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2005 Jun;48(6):810-812.

A Case of Bilateral Sudden Hearing Loss Caused by Right Anterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery Plus Syndrome and Left Anterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery Infarction

• Baek MJ
• Choi JB

Abstract

Acute ischemic stroke in the distribution of anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) is known to be associated with vertigo, nystagmus, facial weakness and gait ataxia. A few reports have carefully examined the deafness associated with the AICA infarction. A 55 year old man was presented with right sudden hearing loss, tinnitus and vertigo. The magnetic resonance image of the brain with 4-vessel angiogram showed stenosis in the lower third of the basilar artery due to partial thrombosis and no remarkable lesion in AICA. Although heparin treatment was done, the patient's hearing was not improved. After 3 months of heparin treatment, the patient was presented again with left sudden hearing loss, tinnitus and facial palsy. The magnetic resonance image and angiogram showed increased size of thrombosis and non-visualization of left vertebral artery and basilar artery. Diffusion scan showed focal infarction involving the left AICA territory. Recently, we experienced a case of bilateral sudden hearing loss caused by the right AICA plus syndrome and the left AICA infarction. So authors report this case with a review of literature.

Keyword

Sudden hearing loss; Cerebellar infarction; Basilar insufficiency

MeSH Terms

Arteries*
Basilar Artery
Brain
Constriction, Pathologic
Deafness
Diffusion
Facial Paralysis
Gait Ataxia
Hearing
Hearing Loss, Sudden*
Heparin
Humans
Infarction*
Middle Aged
Stroke
Thrombosis
Tinnitus
Vertebral Artery
Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency
Vertigo
Heparin