title: Study of the posterior communicating arteries of the circle of willis in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the incidence of non-functioning posterior communicating arteries (PCoA) of the circle of Willis in patients presenting with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Pathogenesis of SSHL remains unclear despite several theories. A strong association between non-functioning PCoA of the circle of Willis and SSHL has been recently suggested, supporting the theory of vascular disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary referral center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ultrasonographic Doppler flow measurements of the vertebrobasilar system were performed prospectively in 27 consecutive patients with idiopathic SSHL and in 27 healthy subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A non-functioning PCoA was found in 4 patients with idiopathic SSHL and in 4 cases in the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of our study did not show any association between non-functioning PCoA of the circle of Willis and idiopathic SSHL, contrasting with previous data. We do not recommend adding routine transcranial Doppler ultrasonography in the test-battery for SSHL.
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, Fondation Adolphe de Rothschild, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Sandrine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Van Prooyen-Keyzer
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Sadik
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ulanovski
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parmantier
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ayache
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001488:Basilar Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002941:Circle of Willis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology