Significance of anomalous anterior inferior cerebellar artery−posterior inferior cerebellar artery common trunk compression in microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm

Abstract Background The anterior inferior cerebellar artery−posterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA−PICA) common trunk anomaly is reportedly one of the most common vessel variants in the posterior circulation, but reports of hemifacial spasm (HFS) associated with AICA−PICA common trunk are very rare. In the present study, we describe methods of microvascular decompression (MVD) for HFS caused by AICA−PICA common trunk compression. Methods Among 159 patients who underwent MVD for HFS, 16 patients had compression of the root exit zone (REZ) by the AICA−PICA common trunk anomaly. The types of compression were classified into 2 groups: common trunk artery compression (CTC) group and branching vessel compression (BVC) group. Results The CTC group consisted of 11 patients (69%), and the BVC group consisted of 5 patients (31%). The rostral branch (feeding the original AICA territory) coursed between the seventh and eighth cranial nerves in 5 patients, and in 13 patients (81%), the offending vessel harbored perforators around the REZ. Among 16 patients, 14 patients (87.5%) required interposition of the common trunk or the branching vessel, and in 2 patients, decompression was completed by the transposition method. Fifteen patients experienced sufficient results, and 1 had severe residual spasm. Transient facial palsy developed in 2 patients. No patients encountered recurrence. Conclusions Reports concerning decompression methods of AICA−PICA common trunk anomaly are very rare. The tortuosity of the common trunk and perforators from the offending vessel make the usual repositioning of the offending artery much more difficult, and adequate decompression techniques are required for successful MVD.