Hemifacial spasm resulting from vertebral artery dolichoectasia

Authors

• Dirk Deleu, Department of Neurology (Medicine), Hamad Medical Corporation, PO Box 3050, Doha, State of Qatar. Fax. +947 4392273. E-mail: doc_deleu{at}hotmail.com
• Boulenouar Mesraoua, Department of Neurology, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, State of Qatar.

Abstract

A 32-year-old man presented with left hemifacial spasm. Neurophysiological findings revealed an absent ipsilateral R1 on blink reflex. An MRI showed a dolichoectatic left vertebral artery impinging on the root exit zone of the left facial nerve. Botulinum toxin infections relieved the manifestations of hemifacial spasm. This case demonstrates that MRI/MRA is an essential part of the work-up for hemifacial spasm, and shows that in accordance with the literature, vertebral dolichoectasia is an uncommon cause of hemifacial spasm.

Article Type

Case Report

First Page

1640

Last Page

1642

Recommended Citation

Deleu, Dirk and Mesraoua, Boulenouar (2005) "Hemifacial spasm resulting from vertebral artery dolichoectasia," Saudi Medical Journal: Vol. 26: Iss. 10, Article 28.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15537/1658-3175.3169