Ruptured arteriovenous malformation in the auditory nerve: technical case report.

Abstract

Arteriovenous malformations in the cranial nerves are very rare, and only one case has been reported in the literature. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of an arteriovenous malformation in the auditory nerve. A 30-year-old woman presented with a subarachnoid hemorrhage resulting from rupture of an arteriovenous malformation in the auditory nerve. During the operation, the auditory nerve bundle was found to be severely damaged and a nidus was identified inside the bundle. Although arteriovenous malformations are thought to arise in the 4th to 8th weeks of gestation, this case might indicate a more specific time of emergence based on embryogenesis of the cranial nerves.