Two cases are presented of sudden deafness with vertigo and/or dizzine
ss, a 19-year-old male and a 54-year-old female. Their onset condition
was considered to be caused by vascular disorders in the area of the
vertebrobasilar artery, but they showed no signs of the central nervou
s system disorders. Case 1 suffered right sudden deafness just after a
super selective embolization for the peripheral area of the right ver
tebral artery, and case 2, just after the accidental cutting of the le
ft vertebral artery during the procedure of neurovascular decompressio
n surgery. The neurotologic findings in these cases were almost the sa
me and the common characteristics were (1) irreversible total deafness
of the affected ear, (2) canal paresis in caloric test, (3) retrolaby
rinthine disorder of the vestibular system detected by the galvanic te
st, and (4) no obvious findings of central nervous system disorders, s
uch as eye movement disorder or ataxy. These findings indicate that th
e sudden deafness was attributable to localized embolism in the inner
ear artery caused by thrombosis in the area of the vertebrobasilar art
ery.