title: Duplicate internal auditory canals with facial and vestibulocochlear nerve dysfunction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We report an extremely rare case of duplication of the internal auditory canal associated with dysfunction of both the facial and vestibulocochlear nerves. We also review the literature regarding the integrity of the facial and vestibulocochlear nerves in such cases.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 34-year-old man presented with unilateral, right-sided, sensorineural hearing loss and facial nerve palsy since childhood. Facial nerve function was observed to be House-Brackmann grade III. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated ipsilateral duplicate, vacant internal auditory canals. Based on the clinical presentation, we interpreted these radiological findings as aplasia of the vestibulocochlear nerve and severe hypoplasia of the facial nerve.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To our best knowledge, this is the first report of vestibulocochlear nerve aplasia and severe facial nerve hypoplasia in a case of ipsilateral duplication of the internal auditory canal. High resolution gradient echo magnetic resonance imaging sequences are advocated for assessment of neural integrity in patients with an abnormal internal auditory canal and facial and/or vestibulocochlear nerve dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Medical Faculty, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. tykew@email.com
authors.forename: T Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Kew
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abdullah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001621:Betahistine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000503:physiopathology; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural; D046088:Hearing Loss, Unilateral; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000188:drug therapy; D000159:Vestibulocochlear Nerve / Q000002:abnormalities*
chemical_list: D001621:Betahistine