4.5 Review

Microvascular compression of the vestibulocochlear nerve

Journal

EUROPEAN ARCHIVES OF OTO-RHINO-LARYNGOLOGY
Volume 278, Issue 10, Pages 3625-3631

Publisher

SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s00405-020-06586-4

Keywords

Vestibulocochlear nerve diseases; Tinnitus; Nerve compression syndromes; Hearing disorders

Ask authors/readers for more resources

The study conducted a comprehensive literature review on the pathophysiological mechanisms and management strategies of vascular compression of the vestibulocochlear nerve. Results showed that vascular loops in the cerebellopontine angle and internal auditory meatus are common and should be considered a normal variant. Additionally, advances in anatomical understanding help explain the complexity of symptoms caused by neurovascular interaction.
Purpose: Vascular compression of cranial nerves has been widely accepted as a cause for trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm. In contrast, vascular compression of the vestibulocochlear nerve remains controversial. Method A comprehensive literature review including 175 articles between 1960 and 2020 was performed in an attempt to summarise the published hypotheses of the pathophysiological mechanisms of vascular compression of the vestibulocochlear nerve and their management strategies. Results Vascular loops in the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) and internal auditory meatus (IAM) are very common and should be regarded primarily as a normal variant. Advances in anatomical understanding with the development of models for the tonotopy of the vestibulocochlear nerve help explain the complexity of symptoms created by possible neurovascular interaction. Conclusion Widely accepted, validated and sensitive diagnostic criteria and outcome measures need to be established in order to evaluate the role of surgery in vestibulocochlear nerve vascular compression.

Authors

I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.

Reviews

Primary Rating

4.5
Not enough ratings

Secondary Ratings

Novelty
-
Significance
-
Scientific rigor
-
Rate this paper

Recommended

No Data Available
No Data Available