A rare entity in a child: Unilateral sensorineural hearing loss with an ipsilateral vascular loop – Is there any correlation? A case report and literature review

A rare entity in a child: Unilateral sensorineural hearing loss with an ipsilateral vascular loop – Is there any correlation? A case report and literature review:



Ramaprabah Kandiah, Nik Adilah Nik Othman



Indian Journal of Otology 2019 25(4):213-215



Unilateral sensorineural hearing loss (USNHL) in children is multifactorial, which includes the inner ear malformations, cochlear nerve deficiency, perinatal cytomegalovirus infections, and Waardenburg syndromes. The exact cause of unexplained sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in children is explained via findings from imaging such as high-resolution computer tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). There are some evidence reported showing correlation between vascular loop and unilateral hearing loss in adults. Association between vascular loop and USNHL in children is yet to be published. A 12-year-old girl presented to otorhinolaryngology clinic with left ear reduced hearing since the age of 6 years. Pure tone audiometry yielded unilateral severe-to-profound SNHL. MRI of brain revealed ipsilateral second-degree vascular loop which projected into porus acusticus (medial end) of the internal auditory canal. She was counseled for hearing aid to improve her hearing. As there was no other possible abnormality noted, we are correlating the hearing loss with the presence of vascular loop in the MRI.