title: Vertebrobasilar occlusion presenting as sudden isolated bilateral sensorineural hearing loss: case report.
abstract: Isolated bilateral deafness is a rare but possible symptom of vertebrobasilar ischemia, primarily due to occlusion of the anterior inferior cerebellar arteries or their branch, the internal auditory artery. We reported on uncommon case of sudden bilateral sensorineural hearing loss without typical neurological symptoms resulting from vertebrobasilar ischemia. We performed the available examinations, including otoscopy, laboratory tests, and pure tone audiogram, however we were not able to identify the cause of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Brain magnetic resonance image showed the cerebellar infarction of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery territory. Brain magnetic resonance angiography showed bilateral vertebral and basilar artery occlusion. We suggest vertebrobasilar ischemia as a cause of sudden isolated deafness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Eunja
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Min-Ki
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Chang-Ki
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Yeong-Bae
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Audiometry; Cerebral infarction; Magnetic resonance imaging; Sensori-neural hearing loss; Sudden hearing loss; Vertebro-basilar ischemia