title: An anatomic variant of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery in a patient with Ménière's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe an anatomic variant of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery in a patient with Ménière's disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case review and review of the literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary referral clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Vestibular nerve section and microvascular decompression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Audiometric testing and control of vertigo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The eighth nerve was identified via a retromastoid approach. The anterior inferior cerebellar artery was observed bisecting the eighth nerve. The vestibular nerve was sectioned, and microvascular decompression was performed on the cochlear division. At last follow-up, the patient had not experienced any vertiginous attacks but was observed to have progressive hearing loss.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The course of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery is highly variable and difficult to predict. Knowing the potential paths is a necessity in performing posterior fossa surgery. Although the patient's vertigo was controlled by the vestibular nerve section, microvascular decompression of the cochlear nerve did not result in hearing improvement or stabilization. This case report does not support a benefit of microvascular decompression in Méniére's disease. Vestibular nerve section remains the authors' treatment of choice for controlling disabling vertigo caused by Ménière's disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scoleri
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Widner
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Cass
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020771:Anterior Cerebral Artery / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone / Q000379:methods; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery; D002536:Cerebral Arteries; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D013506:Otologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D020769:Posterior Cerebral Artery / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014725:Vestibular Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery