Hemifacial spasm resulting from vertebral artery dolichoectasia

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.