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Neurovascular conflict and sudden unilateral sensorineural hearing loss: coincidence or coexistence?

  • Otology
  • Published:
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To study the association between neurovascular conflict (NVC) of the 8th cranial nerve (CN8) and unilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss SSNHL (SSNHL).

Methods

A systematic literature search of “MEDLINE” via “PubMed,” “Embase,” and “Google-Scholar” was conducted. Meta-analysis of pooled data was performed for NVC prevalence of SSNHL affected ears versus controls.

Results

The literature search identified 941 publications, of which, 9 included in qualitative synthesis (1030 ears) and 5 in quantitative synthesis (484 ears). NVC was as prevalent as 0.8–69% for affected ears and as 19–57% for controlled ears. No association between MRI protocol and NVC prevalence was proved. An odds ratio of 1.05 (95% confidence interval = 0.79–1.39) was calculated for association of NVC in unilateral SSNHL ears versus controls.

Conclusion

The prevalence of NVC of CN8 in unilateral SSNHL affected ears is not significantly bigger than controls. Hence, NVC of CN8 is probably NOT associated with unilateral SSNHL.

Level of evidence

1

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Funding

There are no financial interests, arrangements, or payments to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel, affiliated to the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, 6 Weizmann Street, 6423906, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Tzahi Yamin, Yahav Oron, Ophir Handzel, Rani Abu Eta, Nidal Muhanna & Omer J. Ungar

Authors
  1. Tzahi Yamin
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  2. Yahav Oron
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  3. Ophir Handzel
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  4. Rani Abu Eta
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  5. Nidal Muhanna
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  6. Omer J. Ungar
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Omer J. Ungar.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

This systematic review of collective published data did not require approval from the institutional review board nor that of the ethical committee to local law because it does not use individualized patient data. Each one of the included articles has reported previously of enrolling through its own institutional review board or ethical committee.

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Yamin, T., Oron, Y., Handzel, O. et al. Neurovascular conflict and sudden unilateral sensorineural hearing loss: coincidence or coexistence?. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 280, 3635–3641 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-023-07878-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-023-07878-1

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