Digital subtraction angiography abnormalities in sudden unilateral profound hearing loss.

Conclusion: The reduced caliber of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) on the affected side in patients with sudden unilateral profound hearing loss (SUPHL) may reflect a perfusion deficit which, combined to a lesser degree with anatomic abnormalities in the vertebrobasilar system, would be implicated in the pathogenesis of SUPHL.

Objective: To identify existing hemodynamic disturbances and anatomic abnormalities in patients with SUPHL using digital subtraction angiography.

Material And Methods: Ten patients aged 18-66 years and a control group of 25 subjects were included in the study. Both vertebral arteries (VAs) were selectively catheterized in all the patients.

Results: In 7/10 patients (70%) the AICA on the side affected by SUPHL was smaller in caliber than the contralateral one after injection of contrast medium into the VA on the affected side. The situation was significantly different in the control group, whose angiography results demonstrated similarly sized AICAs in 84% of cases. Tortuosity of the VA on the affected side was encountered in two patients and important VA asymmetry in one.