Auditory Findings Related to Compression of the 7th and 8th Cranial Nerves Following Microvascular Decompression: A Case Report
Yıl 2026,
Cilt: 12 Sayı: 1, 89 - 91, 20.01.2026
Mehmet Aktoklu
,
Ali Samet Topsakal
,
Mustafa Kiziltaş
,
Mehmet Orbay Bıyık
Öz
Microvascular decompression (MVD) is a proven effective method for treating trigeminal neuralgia. However, compression of the 7th and 8th cranial nerves by vascular structures during surgery can lead to variable outcomes in auditory function. This case report presents a rare case suggesting that progressive hearing loss in the right ear may be primarily due to compression of the 7th and 8th nerves. A 53-year-old male patient with a history of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss presented with progressive hearing loss in the right ear. Imaging and examination revealed a vascular structure compressing the 7th and 8th cranial nerves at the cerebellopontine angle. Therefore, MVD was performed on the right side. In the postoperative period, the patient reported a marked improvement in hearing in his right ear. However, audiological examinations performed in the first week and first month postoperatively revealed objective deterioration in pure tone thresholds and a predominance of the sensorineural component. This case demonstrates that compression of the 7th and 8th cranial nerves may play a critical role in progressive hearing loss. It also highlights the need to include tinnitus scales, speech intelligibility, and quality of life parameters in the assessment, not just pure-tone audiometry findings, after MVD.
Etik Beyan
Written informed consent was obtained from the relevant patient for this study, and the consent form has been uploaded to the system. All stages of the research process were conducted in accordance with international ethical standards.
Destekleyen Kurum
No support has been received.
Kaynakça
-
Jannetta PJ. Arterial compression of the trigeminal nerve at the pons in patients with trigeminal neuralgia. J Neurosurg. 1967;26(1pt2):159-162. doi:10.3171/jns.1967.26.1part2.0159
-
Barker FG, Jannetta PJ, Bissonette DJ, et al. The long-term outcome of microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia. N Engl J Med. 1996;334(17):1077-1084. doi:10.1056/NEJM199604253341701
-
Ryu H, Yamamoto S, Sugiyama K, et al. Neurovascular decompression of the eighth cranial nerve in patients with hemifacial spasm and incidental tinnitus: an alternative way to study tinnitus. J Neurosurg. 1998;88(2):232-236. doi:10.3171/jns.1998.88.2.0232
-
Moosa S, Fezeu F, Kesser BW, et al. Sudden unilateral hearing loss and vascular loop in the internal auditory canal: case report and review of literature. J Radiosurg SBRT. 2015;3(3):247-254.
-
Ying T, Thirumala P, Gardner P, et al. The incidence of early postoperative conductive hearing loss after microvascular decompression of hemifacial spasm. J Neurol Surg B Skull Base. 2015;76(6):411-415. doi:10.1055/s-0034-1390402
-
Bartindale M, Kircher M, Adams W, et al. Hearing loss following posterior fossa microvascular decompression: a systematic review. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2018;158(1):62-75. doi:10.1177/0194599817728878
-
Sato A, Tanaka Y, Ishiwada T, et al. Comparative analysis of patients undergoing microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia caused by solely arterial or solely venous compression. World Neurosurg. 2024;189:e1034-e1039. doi:10.1016/j.wneu.2024.07.071
-
So RJ, Kalluri AL, Zhu S, et al. Multiple vessel compression of the trigeminal nerve is associated with worse outcomes in trigeminal neuralgia after microvascular decompression. Neurosurgery. 2023;92(5):1029-1034. doi:10.1227/neu.0000000000002323
-
Ujihara M, Kobayashi M, Hirata S, et al. Bilateral low-frequency hearing impairment after microvascular decompression surgery. Neurosurgery. 2023;93(3):662-669. doi:10.1227/neu.0000000000002469
-
De Ridder D, Møller A, Verlooy J, Cornelissen M, De Ridder L. Is the root entry/exit zone important in microvascular compression syndromes? Neurosurgery. 2002;51(2):427-434.
Mikrovasküler Dekompresyon Sonrası 7. ve 8. Kranial Sinirlerin Sıkışmasına İlişkin İşitsel Bulgular: Bir Olgu Sunumu
Yıl 2026,
Cilt: 12 Sayı: 1, 89 - 91, 20.01.2026
Mehmet Aktoklu
,
Ali Samet Topsakal
,
Mustafa Kiziltaş
,
Mehmet Orbay Bıyık
Öz
Microvascular decompression (MVD) is a proven effective method for treating trigeminal neuralgia. However, compression of the 7th and 8th cranial nerves by vascular structures during surgery can lead to variable outcomes in auditory function. This case report presents a rare case suggesting that progressive hearing loss in the right ear may be primarily due to compression of the 7th and 8th nerves. A 53-year-old male patient with a history of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss presented with progressive hearing loss in the right ear. Imaging and examination revealed a vascular structure compressing the 7th and 8th cranial nerves at the cerebellopontine angle. Therefore, MVD was performed on the right side. In the postoperative period, the patient reported a marked improvement in hearing in his right ear. However, audiological examinations performed in the first week and first month postoperatively revealed objective deterioration in pure tone thresholds and a predominance of the sensorineural component. This case demonstrates that compression of the 7th and 8th cranial nerves may play a critical role in progressive hearing loss. It also highlights the need to include tinnitus scales, speech intelligibility, and quality of life parameters in the assessment, not just pure-tone audiometry findings, after MVD.
Etik Beyan
Bu araştırmada etik ilkelere uygun davranılmıştır.
Destekleyen Kurum
Herhangi bir destek alınmamıştır.
Kaynakça
-
Jannetta PJ. Arterial compression of the trigeminal nerve at the pons in patients with trigeminal neuralgia. J Neurosurg. 1967;26(1pt2):159-162. doi:10.3171/jns.1967.26.1part2.0159
-
Barker FG, Jannetta PJ, Bissonette DJ, et al. The long-term outcome of microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia. N Engl J Med. 1996;334(17):1077-1084. doi:10.1056/NEJM199604253341701
-
Ryu H, Yamamoto S, Sugiyama K, et al. Neurovascular decompression of the eighth cranial nerve in patients with hemifacial spasm and incidental tinnitus: an alternative way to study tinnitus. J Neurosurg. 1998;88(2):232-236. doi:10.3171/jns.1998.88.2.0232
-
Moosa S, Fezeu F, Kesser BW, et al. Sudden unilateral hearing loss and vascular loop in the internal auditory canal: case report and review of literature. J Radiosurg SBRT. 2015;3(3):247-254.
-
Ying T, Thirumala P, Gardner P, et al. The incidence of early postoperative conductive hearing loss after microvascular decompression of hemifacial spasm. J Neurol Surg B Skull Base. 2015;76(6):411-415. doi:10.1055/s-0034-1390402
-
Bartindale M, Kircher M, Adams W, et al. Hearing loss following posterior fossa microvascular decompression: a systematic review. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2018;158(1):62-75. doi:10.1177/0194599817728878
-
Sato A, Tanaka Y, Ishiwada T, et al. Comparative analysis of patients undergoing microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia caused by solely arterial or solely venous compression. World Neurosurg. 2024;189:e1034-e1039. doi:10.1016/j.wneu.2024.07.071
-
So RJ, Kalluri AL, Zhu S, et al. Multiple vessel compression of the trigeminal nerve is associated with worse outcomes in trigeminal neuralgia after microvascular decompression. Neurosurgery. 2023;92(5):1029-1034. doi:10.1227/neu.0000000000002323
-
Ujihara M, Kobayashi M, Hirata S, et al. Bilateral low-frequency hearing impairment after microvascular decompression surgery. Neurosurgery. 2023;93(3):662-669. doi:10.1227/neu.0000000000002469
-
De Ridder D, Møller A, Verlooy J, Cornelissen M, De Ridder L. Is the root entry/exit zone important in microvascular compression syndromes? Neurosurgery. 2002;51(2):427-434.