scholarly journals Hemifacial spasm caused by posterior fossa arachnoid cyst: Case Report

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Júlia Coutinho Cordeiro ◽  
José Gilberto de Brito Henriques

Context: Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is characterized by continuous or intermittent spasmodic movements at the facial nerve motor territory.1,2,3 It mainly affects middle- aged adults and usually occurs by compression of the facial nerve by anomalous vascular loops of the anteroinferior and vertebral cerebellar artery.2,3,4,5 The arachnoid cyst at the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) is an rare cause of HFS, especially in children. Case report: A six-year-old female patient started presenting at 18 months HFS on the right side. She was initially treated with anticonvulsant without improvement. The patient came to our care at the age of six presenting 2-3 HFS per day and remissions lasting 3-4 weeks. Image exams reveled a CPA arachnoid cyst compressing the VII and VIII nerves complex. Surgical drainage of the cyst was performed as the treatment of choice. In postoperative period, the patient presented remission of HFS, and cranial tomography showed a decrease in cyst volume. In three months, there was remission of the signs without use of any medications. Conclusions: There was no report of arachnoid cyst in CPA as a cause of HFS in children. HFS occurs probably by chronic irritation, since birth, because of the contact of arachnoid cyst in the emergence of the VII and VIII nerves complex in the PCA. Therefore, treatment was chosen according to the cause of HFS. Movement disorder as a clinical manifestation of the cyst is rare, especially in pediatric population, and should be considered as one of the diagnostic hypotheses.

2018 ◽  
Vol 80 (S 03) ◽  
pp. S294-S295
Author(s):  
Yu-Wen Cheng ◽  
Chun-Yu Cheng ◽  
Zeeshan Qazi ◽  
Laligam N. Sekhar

This 68-year-old woman presented with repeated episodes of bilateral hemifacial spasm with headache for 5 years and with recent progression of left sided symptoms. Preoperative imaging showed a left sided tentorial meningioma with brain stem and cerebellar compression. Left facial nerve was compressed by the vertebral artery (VA) and the right facial nerve by the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA). This patient underwent left side retrosigmoid craniotomy and mastoidectomy. The cisterna magna was drained to relax the brain. The tumor was very firm, attached to the tentorium and had medial and lateral lobules. The superior cerebellar artery was adherent to the lateral lobule of the tumor and dissected away. The tumor was detached from its tentorial base; we first removed the lateral lobule. Following this, the medial lobule was also completely dissected and removed. The root exit zone of cranial nerve (CN) VII was dissected and exposed. The compression was caused both by a prominent VA and AICA. Initially, the several pieces of Teflon felt were placed for the decompression. Then vertebropexy was performed by using 8–0 nylon suture placed through the VA media to the clival dura. A further piece of Teflon felt was placed between cerebellopontine angle region and AICA. Her hemifacial spasm resolved postoperatively, and she discharged home 1 week later. Postoperative imaging showed complete tumor removal and decompression of left CN VII. This video shows the complex surgery of microsurgical resection of a large tentorial meningioma and microvascular decompression with a vertebropexy procedure.The link to the video can be found at: https://youtu.be/N5aHN9CRJeM.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noriya Enomoto ◽  
Kenji Yagi ◽  
Shunji Matsubara ◽  
Masaaki Uno

Bow hunter's syndrome (BHS) is most commonly caused by compression of the vertebral artery (VA). It has not been known to occur due to an extracranially originated posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA), the first case of which we present herein. A 71-year-old man presented with reproducible dizziness on leftward head rotation, indicative of BHS. On radiographic examination, the bilateral VAs merged into the basilar artery, and the left VA was predominant. The right PICA originated extracranially from the right VA at the atlas–axis level and ran vertically into the spinal canal. During the head rotation that induced dizziness, the right PICA was occluded, and a VA stenosis was revealed. Occlusion of the PICA was considered to be the primary cause of the dizziness. The patient underwent surgery to decompress the right PICA and VA via a posterior cervical approach. Following surgery, the patient's dizziness disappeared, and the stenotic change at the right VA and PICA improved. The PICA could be a causative artery for BHS when it originates extracranially at the atlas–axis level, and posterior decompression is an effective way to treat it.


Author(s):  
Kiran Natarajan ◽  
Koka Madhav ◽  
A. V. Saraswathi ◽  
Mohan Kameswaran

<p>Bilateral temporal bone fractures are rare; accounting for 9% to 20% of cases of temporal bone fractures. Clinical manifestations include hearing loss, facial paralysis, CSF otorhinorrhea and dizziness. This is a case report of a patient who presented with bilateral temporal bone fractures. This is a report of a 23-yr-old male who sustained bilateral temporal bone fractures and presented 18 days later with complaints of watery discharge from left ear and nose, bilateral profound hearing loss and facial weakness on the right side. Pure tone audiometry revealed bilateral profound sensori-neural hearing loss. CT temporal bones &amp; MRI scans of brain were done to assess the extent of injuries. The patient underwent left CSF otorrhea repair, as the CSF leak was active and not responding to conservative management. One week later, the patient underwent right facial nerve decompression. The patient could not afford a cochlear implant (CI) in the right ear at the same sitting, however, implantation was advised as soon as possible because of the risk of cochlear ossification. The transcochlear approach was used to seal the CSF leak from the oval and round windows on the left side. The facial nerve was decompressed on the right side. The House-Brackmann grade improved from Grade V to grade III at last follow-up. Patients with bilateral temporal bone fractures require prompt assessment and management to decrease the risk of complications such as meningitis, permanent facial paralysis or hearing loss. </p>


1993 ◽  
Vol 86 (3) ◽  
pp. 315-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meiho Nakayama ◽  
Shigeru Inafuku ◽  
Isao Takimoto ◽  
Kaoru Suzuki ◽  
Noboru Matsumoto ◽  
...  

2007 ◽  
Vol 107 (6) ◽  
pp. 1154-1163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramin Naraghi ◽  
Levent Tanrikulu ◽  
Regina Troescher-Weber ◽  
Barbara Bischoff ◽  
Martin Hecht ◽  
...  

Object In this paper, the authors introduce a method of noninvasive anatomical analysis of the facial nerve–vestibulocochlear nerve complex and the depiction of the variable vascular relationships by using 3D volume visualization. With this technique, a detailed spatial representation of the facial and vestibulocochlear nerves was obtained. Patients with hemifacial spasm (HFS) resulting from neurovascular compression (NVC) were examined. Methods A total of 25 patients (13 males and 12 females) with HFS underwent 3D visualization using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with 3D constructive interference in a steady state (CISS). Each data set was segmented and visualized with respect to the individual neurovascular relationships by direct volume rendering. Segmentation and visualization of the facial and vestibulocochlear nerves were performed with reference to their root exit zone (REZ), as well as proximal and distal segments including corresponding blood vessels. The 3D visualizations were interactively compared with the intraoperative situation during microvascular decompression (MVD) to verify the results with the observed microneurosurgical anatomy. Results Of the 25 patients, 20 underwent MVD (80%). Microvascular details were recorded on the affected and unaffected sides. On the affected sides, the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) was the most common causative vessel. The posterior inferior cerebellar artery, vertebral artery, internal auditory artery, and veins at the REZ of the facial nerve (the seventh cranial nerve) were also found to cause vascular contacts to the REZ of the facial nerve. In addition to this, the authors identified three distinct types of NVC within the REZ of the facial nerve at the affected sides. The authors analyzed the varying courses of the vessels on the unaffected sides. There were no bilateral clinical symptoms of HFS and no bilateral vascular compression of the REZ of the facial nerve. The authors discovered that the AICA is the most common vessel that interferes with the proximal and distal portions of the facial nerve without any contact between vessels and the REZ of the facial nerve on the unaffected sides. Conclusions Three-dimensional visualization by direct volume rendering of 3D CISS MR imaging data offers the opportunity of noninvasive exploration and anatomical categorization of the facial nerve–vestibulocochlear nerve complex. Furthermore, it proves to be advantageous in establishing the diagnosis and guiding neurosurgical procedures by representing original MR imaging patient data in a 3D fashion. This modality provides an excellent overview of the entire neurovascular relationship of the cerebellopontine angle in each case.


2008 ◽  
Vol 109 (3) ◽  
pp. 416-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauricio Campos-Benitez ◽  
Anthony M. Kaufmann

Object It is generally accepted that hemifacial spasm (HFS) is caused by pulsatile vascular compression upon the facial nerve root exit zone. This 2–3 mm area, considered synonymous with the Obersteiner–Redlich zone, is a transition zone (TZ) between central and peripheral axonal myelination that is situated at the nerve's detachment from the pons. Further proximally, however, the facial nerve is exposed on the pontine surface and emerges from the pontomedullary sulcus. The incidence and significance of neurovascular compression upon these different segments of the facial nerve in patients with HFS has not been previously reported. Methods The nature of neurovascular compression was determined in 115 consecutive patients undergoing their first microvascular decompression (MVD) for HFS. The location of neurovascular compression was categorized to 1 of 4 anatomical portions of the facial nerve: RExP = root exit point; AS = attached segment; RDP = root detachment point that corresponds to the TZ; and CP = distal cisternal portion. The severity of compression was defined as follows: mild = contact without indentation of nerve; moderate = indentation; and severe = deviation of the nerve course. Success in alleviating HFS was documented by telephone interview conducted at least 24 months following MVD surgery. Results Neurovascular compression was found in all patients, and the main culprit was the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (in 43%), posterior inferior cerebellar artery (in 31%), vertebral artery (in 23%), or a large vein (in 3%). Multiple compressing vessels were found in 38% of cases. The primary culprit location was at RExP in 10%, AS in 64%, RDP in 22%, and CP in 3%. The severity of compression was mild in 27%, moderate in 61%, and severe in 12%. Failure to alleviate HFS occurred in 9 cases, and was not related to compression location, severity, or vessel type. Conclusions The authors observed that culprit neurovascular compression was present in all cases of HFS, but situated at the RDP or Obersteiner–Redlich zone in only one-quarter of cases and rarely on the more distal facial nerve root. Since the majority of culprit compression was found more proximally on the pontine surface or even pontomedullary sulcus origin of the facial nerve, these areas must be effectively visualized to achieve consistent success in performing MVD for HFS.


Author(s):  
Lauren Hennein ◽  
Nailyn Rasool ◽  
Maanasa Indaram

AbstractAn arachnoid cyst causing a compressive oculomotor nerve palsy is rare in the pediatric population. We describe a case of an acquired, partial oculomotor nerve palsy in a 3-year-old boy caused by an arachnoid cyst in the left crural cistern with associated amblyopia. The patient's amblyopia was aggressively treated, and he underwent cyst fenestration. Two months postoperatively, he continued to demonstrate a partial oculomotor palsy with improved visual acuity and recurrence of the cyst. This case demonstrates that cyst fenestration may not always resolve these paretic effects, cysts may recur after fenestration, and amblyopia must be treated in this setting.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ehab El Refaee ◽  
Steffen Fleck ◽  
Marc Matthes ◽  
Sascha Marx ◽  
Joerg Baldauf ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND Microvascular decompression (MVD) is the most effective treatment option for hemifacial spasm (HFS). However, deeply located forms of compression would require proper identification to allow for adequate decompression. OBJECTIVE To describe the usefulness of endoscopic visualization in one of the most challenging compression patterns in HFS, where the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) loop is severely indenting the brain stem at the proximal root exit zone of facial nerve along the pontomedullary sulcus. METHODS Radiological and operative data were checked for all patients in whom severe indentation of the brainstem by PICA at pontomedullary sulcus was recorded and endoscope-assisted MVD was performed. Clinical correlation and outcome were analyzed. RESULTS A total of 58 patients with HFS were identified with radiological and surgical evidence proving brainstem indentation at the VII transitional zone. In 31 patients, PICA was the offending vessel to the facial nerve. In 3 patients, the PICA loop was mobilized under visualization of a 45° endoscope. A total of 31 patients had a mean follow-up duration of 52.1 mo. The mean duration between start of complaints and surgery was 7.2 yr. In the last follow-up, all patients had remarkable spasm improvement. A total of 5 patients had more than 90% disappearance of spasms and 26 patients experienced spasm-free outcome. CONCLUSION Although severe indentation of brain stem implies morphological damage, outcome after MVD is excellent. A 45° endoscope is extremely helpful to identify compression down at the pontomedullary sulcus. Deeply located compression site can easily be missed with microscopic inspection alone.


2011 ◽  
Vol 68 (suppl_2) ◽  
pp. onsE377-onsE382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomotsugu Ichikawa ◽  
Takashi Agari ◽  
Kazuhiko Kurozumi ◽  
Tomoko Maruo ◽  
Toru Satoh ◽  
...  

Abstract Background And Importance: Severe hemifacial spasm caused by compression by a tortuous vertebral artery (VA) often is encountered and is difficult to treat. We describe a patient with hemifacial spasm caused by compression of the facial nerve by a tortuous VA. A simple and effective transposition approach, a “double-stick tape” technique, to the offending artery using a fibrin tissue-adhesive collagen fleece product (TachoComb) is reported. Clinical Presentation: A 65-year-old woman presented with an 8-year history of right-sided facial spasms, including the orbicularis oculi and orbicularis oris muscles. MRI revealed a tortuous right VA indented into the pontomedullary junction. The right anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) also contacted the proximal portion of the facial nerve. Surgical exploration with standard retrosigmoid craniotomy was performed. The offending VA was dissected away from the pontomedullary junction toward the cranial base. A small piece of TachoComb, with fibrin glue applied on the non-coated side of the fleece to make a “double-stick tape,” was then placed on the ventral surface of the VA. Until the glue hardened, the VA was held away from the brainstem onto the dura of the petrous pyramid. After this procedure, AICA transposition was performed. The patient’s symptoms were completely resolved immediately after surgery, and she remained asymptomatic at her 1 year follow-up visit. Conclusion: The advantage of our “double-stick tape” technique is the simplicity of the procedure. The present technique is a feasible alternative for the treatment of hemifacial spasm caused by a tortuous VA.


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