Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is a clinical condition characterized by a sudden onset of unilateral or bilateral hearing loss. In recent years sudden deafness has been frequently described in association with anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) infarction generally presenting along with other brainstem and cerebellar signs such as ataxia, dysmetria and peripheral facial palsy. The authors report a rare clinical case of a 53-year-old man who suddenly developed hearing loss and tinnitus without any brainstem or cerebellar signs. Computed tomography of his brain was normal, and the audiological results localized the lesion causing deafness to the inner ear. Surprisingly, magnetic resonance imaging showed an ischemic infarct in the right AICA territory. This case represents the fifth in the literature to date but it confirms that AICA occlusion can cause sudden deafness even without brainstem or cerebellar signs. Therefore, we recommend submitting the patient for neuroimaging, as an emergency, in order to exclude infarction of the AICA territory. By doing this, it may be possible to limit the extent of the lesion by commencing early therapy.

Martines, F., Dispenza, F., Gagliardo, C., Martines, E., Bentivegna, D.L. (2011). Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss as Prodromal Symptom of Anterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery Infarction. ORL, 73(73), 137-140 [10.1159/000327523].

Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss as Prodromal Symptom of Anterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery Infarction

MARTINES, Francesco;DISPENZA, Francesco;GAGLIARDO, Cesare;MARTINES, Enrico;BENTIVEGNA, Daniela Linda
2011-01-01

Abstract

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is a clinical condition characterized by a sudden onset of unilateral or bilateral hearing loss. In recent years sudden deafness has been frequently described in association with anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) infarction generally presenting along with other brainstem and cerebellar signs such as ataxia, dysmetria and peripheral facial palsy. The authors report a rare clinical case of a 53-year-old man who suddenly developed hearing loss and tinnitus without any brainstem or cerebellar signs. Computed tomography of his brain was normal, and the audiological results localized the lesion causing deafness to the inner ear. Surprisingly, magnetic resonance imaging showed an ischemic infarct in the right AICA territory. This case represents the fifth in the literature to date but it confirms that AICA occlusion can cause sudden deafness even without brainstem or cerebellar signs. Therefore, we recommend submitting the patient for neuroimaging, as an emergency, in order to exclude infarction of the AICA territory. By doing this, it may be possible to limit the extent of the lesion by commencing early therapy.
2011
Settore MED/32 - Audiologia
Settore MED/26 - Neurologia
Settore MED/37 - Neuroradiologia
ORL
Martines, F., Dispenza, F., Gagliardo, C., Martines, E., Bentivegna, D.L. (2011). Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss as Prodromal Symptom of Anterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery Infarction. ORL, 73(73), 137-140 [10.1159/000327523].
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss as Prodromal Symptom of Anterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery Infarction.pdf

accesso aperto

Dimensione 257.11 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
257.11 kB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10447/54190
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 29
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 22
social impact