Vertebral artery aneurysm causing contralateral cerebellopontine angle mass effect.
OBJECTIVE
A vertebral artery aneurysm mimicking a contralateral cerebellopontine angle tumor is described. This is only the second reported case of this in the literature.


METHODS
Case report.


METHODS
Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, United Kingdom.


METHODS
Seventy-year-old female patient who presented with a gradually deteriorating right-sided sensorineural hearing loss and a right facial palsy.


METHODS
Magnetic resonance imaging scan and computed tomography angiography with three-dimensional reconstruction followed-up by endovascular coiling of a vertebral artery aneurysm.


METHODS
Deterioration in neurologic status.


RESULTS
Satisfactory recovery, and at 3 months, the patient is well with no deterioration in facial nerve function.


CONCLUSIONS
Imaging by means of computed tomography angiography complements the standard magnetic resonance imaging scan in the rare event of an aneurysm at the cerebellopontine angle. Endovascular coiling occlusion is a recognized and effective way of managing intracranial aneurysms at the cerebellopontine angle.
Monksfield
Peter
P
Department of Otolaryngology, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, UK. pmonksfield@talk21.com
Martinez Devesa
Pablo
P
Molyneux
Andrew
A
Milford
Chris
C
D000368:Aged; D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002530:Cerebellopontine Angle; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014711:Vertebral Artery