title: Role of magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography in patients with hemifacial spasm.
abstract: Vascular compression of the facial nerve is a well recognized cause of hemifacial spasm (HFS). In this study, we described the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and three-dimensional magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) techniques used and findings in 34 patients with hemifacial spasm. A vascular abnormality, defined as a vessel seen in close proximity, touching or compressing the facial nerve, was identified in 22 of the 25 patients (88%) who had both MRI and MRA studies. Vessels identified were anterior inferior cerebellar artery (59.2%), posterior inferior cerebellar artery (13.6%), vertebral artery (18.2%) and basilar artery (4.5%). All vascular abnormalities were ipsilateral to the side of the HFS. Only 3 of the 12 controls (25%) had a vascular abnormality in both MRI and MRA studies. One of the 9 HFS patients (11.1%) who had MRI only had an ipsilateral vascular abnormality. There is a role for combined MRI and MRA studies in the non-invasive evaluation of patients with HFS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Khoo
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001158:Arteries / Q000473:pathology; D001488:Basilar Artery / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000098:blood supply; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000098:blood supply; D005260:Female; D019569:Hemifacial Spasm / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000473:pathology