Question 1

are aica vascular loops in inner auditory canal common in healthy population without any symptoms?

Accepted Answer

Probably unknown: To find out, researchers would have to study the anatomy of a large group of normal people's heads. One paper published in 1991 found that 12% of heads they studied had such loops and concluded they found "no correlation between unexplained hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, or Meniere's disease and the presence of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery in the internal auditory canal."

Question 2

what is that bone above the auditory canal called?

Accepted Answer

Skull: The ear canal is one of the openings in the temporal bone. It forms part of the skull base and completely surrounds the auditory canal.

Question 3

what is a prominent vascular loop in the left internal auditory canal type 2?

Accepted Answer

Middle ear: Prominent loops of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery in the cerebellopontine angle are found frequently during anatomic studies of this region. These vascular loops are suspected of causing hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo, and surgery has been advocated to separate the vascular loop from the eighth cranial nerve. Previous reports have described pathologic anatomy, surgical approaches, and results of treatment. In this study, we report the results of a uniform battery of audiometric and vestibular system test results administered to fifteen patients with prominent vascular loops in the internal auditory canal diagnosed by pneumo-CT. All patients were tumor suspects before CT because of unilateral (or asymmetric) tinnitus or hearing loss. Hearing losses ranged from mild to profound, and most were of a cochlear type with excellent speech discrimination. Only one-third of the patients had abnormal caloric tests, but spontaneous nystagmus was detected in all but one of the patients by photoelectric nystagmography. The wide range of audiometric and vestibular system test results probably reflects the complex interaction between the vascular loop and eighth cranial nerve, in which the loop exerts pressure on the nerve, and the nerve compromises inner ear circulation. Eighth nerve tumors and vascular loops produce similar symptoms, but a cochlear type of hearing loss with good speech discrimination and normal caloric testing should raise suspicion of a vascular loop. Pneumo-CT is an effective means of diagnosing vascular loops and differentiating them from other lesions of the cerebellopontine angle.

Am J Otol. 1985 Nov;Suppl:110-3.

Question 4

what would cause no spinal fluid to be seen in one auditory canal on mri but  seen on the other.  mentioned soft tissue density on that side. ?

Accepted Answer

? Mass vs. Vol Ave.: Depending on the MRI protocol, it is possible there is slight angling of the image, and one side is seen well while the other is not as clearly seen.  This is called volume averaging. It is more likely on a routine head mri, and unlikely on a dedicated MRI of the internal auditory canals.

It is also possible there is soft tissue is in one auditory canal.  Was there enhancement after contrast?

Question 5

could an mri of the inner auditory canal show noise-induced hearing loss?

Accepted Answer

No: An MRI of the temporal bone which includes the auditory canal cannot show noise-induced hearing loss. Hearing loss is evaluated with a hearing test and audiogram. The cause of the hearing loss can be speculated at based on your history and the findings from the hearing test. There is no imaging study that can quantify hearing loss.

Question 6

my daughter is seeing a gi for reflux but they also found a congenital stenosis of the external auditory canal?

Accepted Answer

Confusing question: If you are asking, i see no relationship with the GI reflux (which all babies have to some degree) and the external ear canal abnormality.

Question 7

please tell me what does a tympanic membrane red and bulging outward toward external auditory canal mean?

Accepted Answer

Otitis media: Otitis media means infection in the middle ear compartment. While not always, the described findings are consistent with middle ear infection. The bulge usually means thick fluid filling up the space and pushing against the drum and the red is that the drum is involved in the infection. These may spontaneously burst or perforate. Appropriate and timely medication usually prevents this.

Question 8

can sarcoidosis look like possible vestibular schwannoma on mri? have spinal marrow lesions. wondering does internal auditory canal mri use contrast?

Accepted Answer

Sarcoid is a mimic: It would have to be in the correct location, but neurosarcoid could have a similar appearance (soft tissue that enhances).

Internal auditory canal MRI is performed without and with contrast.

Please keep seeing your doctors and complete the workup.

Question 9

please interpret. prominent aica branches extending in both auditory canals. can be compressing 7th and 8th nerve complexes. have vertigo and tinnitus?

Accepted Answer

AICA: A prominent aica is a variant of normal anatomy.  The aica is the anterior inferior cerebellar artery.  It can be found within the canal called the iac or internal auditory canal, which is where the facial nerve (7th) and the cochlear vestibular nerves (8th) extend from the ear to the brain.  If the aica is prominent, it is large and can compress and result in tinnitus, vertigo & even hearing loss.

Question 10

sinus mri says it showed my mastoid and auditory canals clearly. does this mean it would have seen my inner ear?

Accepted Answer

Yes,: but with relatively poor anatomic detail..  However, tumors or inflammatory processes in that region could probably be identified, particularly if intravenous contrast was used.

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Doctor answers about:

Auditory canal

A member asked:

Are aica vascular loops in inner auditory canal common in healthy population without any symptoms?

A member asked:

What is that bone above the auditory canal called?

A member asked:

What is a prominent vascular loop in the left internal auditory canal type 2?

A member asked:

What would cause no spinal fluid to be seen in one auditory canal on mri but seen on the other. mentioned soft tissue density on that side. ?

A member asked:

Could an mri of the inner auditory canal show noise-induced hearing loss?

A member asked:

My daughter is seeing a gi for reflux but they also found a congenital stenosis of the external auditory canal?

A member asked:

Please tell me what does a tympanic membrane red and bulging outward toward external auditory canal mean?

A member asked:

Can sarcoidosis look like possible vestibular schwannoma on mri? have spinal marrow lesions. wondering does internal auditory canal mri use contrast?

A member asked:

Please interpret. prominent aica branches extending in both auditory canals. can be compressing 7th and 8th nerve complexes. have vertigo and tinnitus?

A member asked:

Sinus mri says it showed my mastoid and auditory canals clearly. does this mean it would have seen my inner ear?

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