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Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2013; 17(04): 419-420
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1351673
Case Report
Thieme Publicações Ltda Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Atypical Manifestation of Vestibular Schwannoma

Guilherme Webster
1   Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital do Servidor Público Municipal de São Paulo, São Paulo/SP, Brazil
,
Rui Carlos Ortega Filho
1   Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital do Servidor Público Municipal de São Paulo, São Paulo/SP, Brazil
,
Antonini de Oliveira e Sousa
1   Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital do Servidor Público Municipal de São Paulo, São Paulo/SP, Brazil
,
Márcio Cavalcante Salmito
1   Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital do Servidor Público Municipal de São Paulo, São Paulo/SP, Brazil
,
Mariana Lopes Favero
1   Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital do Servidor Público Municipal de São Paulo, São Paulo/SP, Brazil
,
Patrícia Maria Sens Marques
1   Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital do Servidor Público Municipal de São Paulo, São Paulo/SP, Brazil
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

05 February 2012

22 April 2012

Publication Date:
13 September 2013 (online)

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Abstract

Introduction Vestibular schwannoma (also known as acoustic neuroma) is a benign tumor whose cells are derived from Schwann sheaths, which commonly occurs from the vestibular portion of the eighth cranial nerve. Furthermore, vestibular schwannomas account for ∼8% of intracranial tumors in adults and 80 to 90% of tumors of the cerebellopontine angle. Its symptoms are varied, but what stands out most is a unilateral sensorineural hearing loss, with a low index of speech recognition.

Objective Describe an atypical manifestation of vestibular schwannoma.

Case Report The 46-year-old woman had vertigo and binaural hearing loss and fullness, with ear, nose, and throat examination suggestive of cochlear injury. After 6 months, the patient developed worsening of symptoms and onset of right unilateral tinnitus. In further exams the signs of cochlear damage remained, except for the vestibular test (hyporeflexia). Magnetic resonance imaging showed an expansive lesion in the right cerebellopontine angle.

Discussion This report warns about the atypical manifestations of vestibular schwannoma, which must always be remembered in investigating and diagnosing hearing loss.

Keywords

neuroma - acoustic - dizziness - hearing loss
 

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