Hemifacial spasm: causes

Primary: vascular compression

• Anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA)
• Posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA)
• Vertebral artery (VA)

Familial

Secondary causes: cerebellopontine angle (CPA) lesions

Secondary causes: fourth ventricle lesions

Secondary causes: vascular lesions

Secondary causes: other disorders

References

1. Lu AY, Yeung JT, Gerrard JL, Michaelides EM, Sekula RF Jr, Bulsara KR. Hemifacial spasm and neurovascular compression. ScientificWorldJournal 2014; 2014:349319.
2. Tan N-C, Chan L-L, Tan E-K. Hemifacial spasm and involuntary facial movements. Q J Med 2002; 95:493–500.
3. Lagalla G, Logullo F, Di Bella P, Haghighipour R, Provinciali L. Familial hemifacial spasm and determinants of late onset. Neurol Sci 2010; 31:17-22. 
4. Ozaki K, Higuchi Y, Nakano S, Horiguchi K, Yamakami I, Iwadate Y. Arachnoid cyst alone causes hemifacial spasm: illustrative case. J Neurosurg Case Lessons 2022; 3:CASE2275.
5. Mastronardi L, Taniguchi R, Caroli M, Crispo F, Ferrante L, Fukushima T. Cerebellopontine angle arachnoid cyst: a case of hemifacial spasm caused by an organic lesion other than neurovascular compression: case report. Neurosurgery 2009; 65:E1205.
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Related checklists

• Hemifacial spasm: clinical features
• Hemifacial spasm: differential diagnosis
• Hemifacial spasm: management