Skip to main content

Vascular Loop Syndromes

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
Neurovascular Imaging

Abstract

Vascular loop syndromes are disorders usually associated with vascular compression of the specific cranial nerves. Neuroimaging may play an important role in the preoperative diagnosis of these syndromes. MRI can detect the vascular loops compressing the cranial nerves (fifth, seventh, ninth, eighth, and fourth) and can also rule out secondary causes. The aim of this chapter is to outline the clinical features and pathogenesis of neurovascular syndromes and give an overview of neuroimaging techniques and findings.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 699.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 999.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Langner S, Schroeder HW, Hosten N, Kirsch M (2012) Diagnosing neurovascular compression syndromes. Rofo 184(3):220–228

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Merskey H, Bogduk N (1994) Classification of chronic pain: descriptions of chronic pain syndromes and definitions of pain terms. IASP Press, Seattle, pp 59–71

    Google Scholar 

  3. Headache Classification Subcommittee of the International Headache Society (2004) The international classification of headache disorders. 2nd edition. Cephalalgia 24(1):126–136

    Google Scholar 

  4. Prasad S, Galetta S (2009) Trigeminal neuralgia historical notes and current concepts. Neurologist 15(2):87–94

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Katusic S, Williams DB, Beard CM, Bergstralh EJ, Kurland LT (1991) Epidemiology and clinical features of idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia and glossopharyngeal neuralgia: similarities and differences, Rochester, Minnesota, 1945–1984. Neuroepidemiology 10:276–281

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Gronseth G, Cruccu G, Alksne J, Argoff C, Brainin M, Burchiel K, Nurmikko T, Zakrzewska JM (2008) Practice parameter: the diagnostic evaluation and treatment of trigeminal neuralgia (an evidence-based review) report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology and the European Federation of Neurological Societies. Neurology 71:1183–1190

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Papanastassiou AM, Schwartz RB, Friedlander RM (2008) Chiari I malformation as a cause of trigeminal neuralgia: case report. Neurosurgery 63(3):E614–E615

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Love S, Coakham HB (2001) Trigeminal neuralgia: pathology and pathogenesis. Brain 124:2347–2360

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Dandy WE (1934) Concerning the cause of trigeminal neuralgia. Am J Surg 24:447–455

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Hamlyn PJ, King TT (1992) Neurovascular compression in trigeminal neuralgia: a clinical and anatomic study. J Neurosurg 76:948–954

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Peker S, Kurtkaya O, Uzun I, Pamir MN (2006) Microanatomy of the central-peripheral myelin transition zone of the trigeminal nerve. Neurosurgery 59(2):354–359

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Smith KJ, McDonald WI (1980) Spontaneous and evoked activity due to central demyelinating lesion. Nature 286(5769):154–155

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Cruccu G, Biasiotta A, Galeotti F, Iannetti GD, Truini A, Gronseth G (2006) Diagnostic accuracy of trigeminal reflex testing in trigeminal neuralgia. Neurology 66(1):139–141

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Mursch K, Schafer M, Steinhoff BJ, Behnke – Mursch J (2002) Trigeminal evoked potentials and sensory deficits in atypical facial pain – a comparison with results in trigeminal neuralgia. Funct Neurol 17(3):133–136

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Bradley WG Jr, Waluch V, Yadley RA, Wycoff RR (1984) Comparison of CT and MR in 400 patients with suspected disease of the brain and cervical spinal cord. Radiology 152(3):695–702

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Kent DL, Larson EB (1988) Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and spine. Is clinical efficacy established after the first decade? Ann Intern Med 108(3):402–424

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Papanagiotou P, Grunwald IQ, Politi M, Struffert T, Ahlhelm F, Reith W (2006) Vascular anomalies of the cerebellopontine angle. Radiologe 46(3):216–222

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Tarnaris A, Rendowen S, Coakham HB (2007) A comparison of magnetic resonance angiography and constructive interference in steady state-three-dimensional Fourier transformation magnetic resonance imaging in patients with hemifacial spasm. Br J Neurosurg 21(4):375–381

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Sindou M, Howeidy T, Acevedo G (2002) Anatomic observations during microvascular decompression for idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia with correlations between topography of pain and site of the neurovascular conflict: prospective study in a series of 579 patients. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 144(1):1–12

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Sindou M, Leston J, Decullier E, Chapuis F (2007) Microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia: long-term effectiveness and prognostic factors in a series of 362 consecutive patients with clear-cut neurovascular conflicts who underwent pure decompression. J Neurosurg 107(6):1144–1153

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Meaney JMF, Miles JB, Nixon TE, Whitehouse GH, Ballantyne ES, Eldridge PR (1994) Vascular contact with the fifth cranial nerve at the pons in patients with trigeminal neuralgia: detection with 3D FISP imaging. AJR 163(6):1447–1452

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Jannetta PJ (1967) Arterial compression of the trigeminal nerve at the pons in patients with trigeminal neuralgia. J Neurosurg 17:159–180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Seoane ER, Rhoton AL Jr (1999) Suprameatal extension of the retrosigmoid approach: microsurgical anatomy. Neurosurgery 44(3):553–560

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Harsha KJ, Kesavadas C, Chinchure S, Thomas B, Jagtap S (2012) Imaging of vascular causes of trigeminal neuralgia. J Neuroradiol 39(5):281–289

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Kress B, Rasche D, Fiebach J, Tronnier V, Sartor K, Stippich C (2004) MR volumetry of the trigeminal nerve in patients with unilateral facial pain. RoFo 176:719–723

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Ha SN, Kim SH, Yoo EH, Han IB, Shin DA, Cho KG, Chung SS, Park YS (2012) Patients with idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia have a sharper-than-normal trigeminal-pontine angle and trigeminal nerve atrophy. Acta Neurochir 154(9):1627–1633

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Goh BT, Poon CY, Peck RH (2001) The importance of routine magnetic resonance imaging in trigeminal neuralgia diagnosis. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 92:424–429

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Tash AR, Sze G, Leslie DR (1989) Trigeminal neuralgia: MR imaging features. Radiology 172(3):767–770

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Liu Y, Li J, Butzkueven H, Duan Y, Zhang M, Shu N, Li Y, Zhang Y, Li K (2013) Microstructural abnormalities in the trigeminal nerves of patients with trigeminal neuralgia revealed by multiple diffusion metrics. Eur J Radiol 82(5):783–786

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Wang A, Jankovic J (1998) Hemifacial spasm: clinical findings and treatment. Muscle Nerve 21(12):1740–1747

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Tan E-K, Jancovik J (1999) Bilateral hemifacial spasm: a report of five cases and a literature review. Mov Disord 14:345–349

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Tan EK, Fook-Chong S, Lum SY, Lim E (2004) Botulinum toxin improves quality of life in hemifacial spasm: validation of a questionnaire (HFS-30). J Neurol Sci 219(12):151–155

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Campbell E, Keedy C (1947) Hemifacial spasm: a note on the etiology in two cases. J Neurosurg 4:342–347

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Gardner WJ (1962) Concerning the mechanism of trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm. J Neurosurg 19:947–958

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Jannetta PJ, Abbasy M, Maroon JC, Ramos FM, Albin MS (1977) Etiology and definitive microsurgical treatment of hemifacial spasm. Operative techniques and results in 47 patients. J Neurosurg 47(3):321–328

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Tomii M, Onoue H, Yasue M, Tokudome S, Abe T (2003) Microscopic measurement of the facial nerve root exit zone from central glial myelin to peripheral Schwann cell myelin. J Neurosurg 99(1):121–124

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Ryu H, Yamamoto S, Sugiyama K, Uemura K, Miyamoto T (1998) Hemifacial spasm caused by vascular compression of the distal portion of the facial nerve. Report of seven cases. J Neurosurg 88(3):605–609

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Ho SL, Cheng PW, Wong WC, Chan FL, Lo SK, Li LS, Tsang KL, Leong LL (1999) A case-controlled MRI/MRA study of neurovascular contact in hemifacial spasm. Neurology 53(9):2132–2139

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Barker FG II, Jannetta PJ, Bissonette DJ, Shields PT, Larkins MV, Jho HD (1995) Microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm. J Neurosurg 82(2):201–210

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Kawashima M, Yamada M, Sato S, Oka H, Fujii K, Matsushima T (2009) Hemifacial spasm caused by vascular compression of the distal portion of the facial nerve associated with configuration variation of the facial and vestibulocochlear nerve complex. Turk Neurosurg 19(3):269–275

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Choi SK, Rhee BA, Park BJ, Lim YJ (2008) Hemifacial spasm caused by fusiform aneurysm at vertebral artery posterior inferior cerebellar artery junction. J Korean Neurosurg Soc 44(6):399–400

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Uchino M, Nomoto J, Ohtsuka T, Kuramitsu T (2005) Fusiform aneurysm of the vertebral artery presenting with hemifacial spasm treated by microvascular decompression. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 147(8):901–903

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Nakagawa I, Takayama K, Kurokawa S, Wada T, Nakagawa H, Kichikawa K, Nakase H (2011) Hemifacial spasm due to contralateral aneurysmal compression of the facial nerve successfully treated with endovascular coil embolization: case report. Neurosurgery 69(3):E768–E772

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Jannetta P (1970) Microsurgical exploration and decompression of the facial nerve in hemifacial spasm. Curr Top Surg Res 2:217–220

    Google Scholar 

  45. Chung SS, Chang JH, Choi JY, Chang JW, Park YG (2001) Microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm: a long-term follow-up of 1,169 consecutive cases. Stereotact Funct Neurosurg 77(1–4):190–193

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Galvez-Jimenez N, Hanson MR, Desai M (2001) Unusual causes of hemifacial spasm. Semin Neurol 21(1):75–83

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Coakham H (2000) The microneurosurgical treatment of trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm and glossopharyngeal neuralgia. In: Robertson HC, Robertson JH (eds) Cranial base surgery. Churchill Livingstone, London

    Google Scholar 

  48. Engh JA, Horowitz M, Burkhart L, Chang YF, Kassam A (2005) Repeat microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 76(11):1574–1580

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Fukuda H, Ishikawa M, Okumura R (2003) Demonstration of neurovascular compression in trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm with magnetic resonance imaging comparison with surgical findings in 60 consecutive cases. Surg Neurol 59(2):93–100

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Tan EK, Chan LL (2006) Young onset hemifacial spasm. Acta Neurol Scand 114(1):59–62

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Tan E-K, Chan LL (2004) Clinico-radiologic correlation in unilateral and bilateral hemifacial spasm. J Neurol Sci 222(1–2):59–64

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Hiwatashi A, Matsushima T, Yoshiura T, Tanaka A, Noguchi T, Togao O, Yamashita K, Honda H (2008) MRI of glossopharyngeal neuralgia caused by neurovascular compression. AJR 191(2):578–581

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Yousry I, Dieterich M, Naidich TP, Schmid UD, Yousry TA (2002) Superior oblique myokymia: magnetic resonance imaging support for the neurovascular compression hypothesis. Ann Neurol 51(3):361–368

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. McDermott AL, Dutt SN, Irving RM, Pahor AL, Chavda SV (2003) Anterior inferior cerebellar artery syndrome: fact or fiction. Clin Otolaryngol 28(2):75–80

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Gultekin S, Celik H, Akpek S, Oner Y, Gumus T, Tokgoz N (2008) Vascular loops at the cerebellopontine angle: is there a correlation with tinnitus? Am J Neuroradiol 29(9):1746–1749

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Divyata R. Hingwala .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this entry

Cite this entry

Hingwala, D.R., Chandrasekharan, K. (2016). Vascular Loop Syndromes. In: Saba, L., Raz, E. (eds) Neurovascular Imaging. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9029-6_9

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9029-6_9

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-9028-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-9029-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine

Publish with us

Policies and ethics