Study of the Posterior Communicating Arteries of the Circle of Willis in Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Abstract

To evaluate the incidence of non-functioning posterior communicating arteries (PCoA) of the circle of Willis in patients presenting with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL). Pathogenesis of SSHL remains unclear despite several theories. A strong association between non-functioning PCoA of the circle of Willis and SSHL has been recently suggested, supporting the theory of vascular disorders. Tertiary referral center. Ultrasonographic Doppler flow measurements of the vertebrobasilar system were performed prospectively in 27 consecutive patients with idiopathic SSHL and in 27 healthy subjects. A non-functioning PCoA was found in 4 patients with idiopathic SSHL and in 4 cases in the control group. The results of our study did not show any association between non-functioning PCoA of the circle of Willis and idiopathic SSHL, contrasting with previous data. We do not recommend adding routine transcranial Doppler ultrasonography in the test-battery for SSHL.