Hearing improvement in a growing vestibular schwannoma.

Vestibular schwannomas are benign, slow-growing tumors that originate from Schwann cells lining the vestibular nerves, most commonly the superior vestibular nerve. They arise at the neurilemmal/neuroglial junction which is situated within the internal auditory canal. They have an incidence of 1 per 100,000 per year and a prevalence of around 700 per million. A case of a patient undergoing a period of observation for a vestibular schwannoma whose hearing improved despite growth of the tumor is described. This raises interesting questions regarding the pathophysiology of hearing loss in patients with vestibular schwannomas. Possible hypotheses are discussed.

[1]  H. Gouveris,et al.  Cochlear Origin of Early Hearing Loss in Vestibular Schwannoma , 2007, The Laryngoscope.

[2]  P. Cayé-Thomasen,et al.  Hearing in Patients with Intracanalicular Vestibular Schwannomas , 2006, Audiology and Neurotology.

[3]  J. Nadol,et al.  Histopathology of the Inner Ear in Unoperated Acoustic Neuroma , 2003, The Annals of otology, rhinology, and laryngology.

[4]  K. Graamans,et al.  Hearing Deterioration in Patients with a Non-growing Vestibular Schwannoma , 2003, Acta oto-laryngologica.

[5]  B. Badie,et al.  Correlation between auditory function and internal auditory canal pressure in patients with vestibular schwannomas. , 2002, Journal of neurosurgery.

[6]  E. Hadar,et al.  Elevation of Internal Auditory Canal Pressure by Vestibular Schwannomas , 2001, Otology & neurotology : official publication of the American Otological Society, American Neurotology Society [and] European Academy of Otology and Neurotology.

[7]  P Schmalbrock,et al.  Tumor Growth and Audiometric Change in Vestibular Schwannomas Managed Conservatively , 2000, The Laryngoscope.

[8]  D. Fabry,et al.  Audiometric findings in patients with acoustic neuroma. , 2000, The American journal of otology.

[9]  Laurie A. Loevner,et al.  Prevalence of Unsuspected Acoustic Neuroma Found by Magnetic Resonance Imaging , 2000, Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

[10]  M. Bance,et al.  The risk of hearing loss in nongrowing, conservatively managed acoustic neuromas. , 1999, The American journal of otology.

[11]  A. Aslan,et al.  Measurement of endocochlear DC potentials in ears with acoustic neuromas: a preliminary report. , 1996, Acta oto-laryngologica.

[12]  J. Nadol,et al.  Correlation of hearing loss and radiologic dimensions of vestibular schwannomas (acoustic Neuromas). , 1996, The American journal of otology.

[13]  G. Brookes,et al.  Mechanisms of hearing loss in acoustic neuroma: an otoacoustic emission study. , 1995, Acta oto-laryngologica.

[14]  J. Lindsay,et al.  Inner Ear Degeneration in Acoustic Neurinoma , 1976, The Annals of otology, rhinology, and laryngology.