title: Vestibular paroxysmia associated with paroxysmal pulsatile tinnitus: a case report and review of the literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vestibular paroxysmia is defined as paroxysmal, brief, and carbamazepine-responsive vertigo. Although neurovascular cross-compression (NVCC) of the vestibulocochlear nerve is believed to be the cause of vestibular paroxysmia, the mechanism remains controversial. Herein, we describe the case of a man with NVCC who presented with paroxysmal vertigo associated with paroxysmal pulsatile tinnitus.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 68-year-old man presented with paroxysmal vertigo for one month. Paroxysmal pulsatile tinnitus in the right ear occurred simultaneously with the vertigo. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated that the right anterior inferior cerebellar artery was compressing the right vestibulocochlear nerve. The vertigo and tinnitus completely disappeared within one week after treatment with carbamazepine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pulsatile nature of the patient's tinnitus implied that the auditory nerve was being compressed by a pulsating artery and was found to consolidate the causal relationship between NVCC and vestibular paroxysmia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Neuro-Medical Scientific Center, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Taichung Branch, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tzu-Pu
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Yi-Chang
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yung-Chu
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Hsu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000588:Amines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000150:complications*; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D014717:Vertigo / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000588:Amines; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D002220:Carbamazepine; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin