Clinical-radiological correlation of vascular loops in the internal auditory conduct with vestibular symptoms

Introduction: Common vestibular symptoms such as tinnitus, hearing loss, and vertigo may be associated with vascular loops in the brainstem. The text details three neurovascular complexes and their interaction with cranial nerves VII and VIII. It also emphasizes the difficulty of correlating radiological findings with clinical symptoms and the importance of MRI in guiding treatment.

Objectives: To determine the correlation of imaging findings of vascular loops in the internal auditory conduct, in patients with vestibular symptoms by means of high-field-strength magnetic resonance.

Method: We did a retrospective and descriptive study, including each patient evaluated between 2021 and 2023 with vestibular symptoms and a cerebellopontine angle vascular loop.

Results: In total there were 135 selected patients with vestibular symptoms and presence of vascular loops (100 women and 35 men) with magnetic resonance studies of the internal auditory canal. Unilateral vascular loop was found in 109 patients (right ear 45.2%, left ear 35.6%) and bilateral loop in 26 patients (19.3%). The most frequent type of vascular loop was type I (right ear 52.6%; left ear 33.3%) and bilateral (14.1%), evidencing an association  between vascular loops and vestibular symptoms.

Conclusions: According to the Chavda classification, comparing the ears that presented vascular loops and vestibular symptoms, we found an association with vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss, in discrepancy with the bibliography.