Anterior Inferior C erebellar Artery Syndrome with Sudden Deafness; A Case Report

Abstract

A 59-year-old female complained of acute right hearing loss with tinnitus. Headache and left hemiplegia occurred twelve days later, and right cerebral hemorrhage was found by CT scan. Angiography showed defects of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (RICA) on the right side and severe narrowing of the vertebral artery on the left side. Left carotid angiography revealed that a persistent primitive trigeminal artery originating from precavernous segments of the internal carotid artery supplied the territory of the left AICA.
So-called AICA syndrome can consist of internal auditory disturbances and cerebellar symptoms. But the only symptom of AICA syndrome may be hearing loss, and stenosis of the unilateral vertebral artery can lead to the contralateral AICA syndrome. Angiography of both vertebro-basilar arteries may be necessary to determine the cause of intractable sudden deafness.