Cochlear implant in acoustic neuroma

Introduction:

Patients suffering from an acoustic neuroma (AN), often become deaf as a result of the disease or its therapy. With a frequency of 8: 1,000,000 in Germany ANs are among the rare diseases. However, because of the retrocochlear damagen hearing rehabilitation in this cases is particularly difficult.

Method:

In a retrospectiv study we analysed hearing outcome of cochlear implant patients (n = 18) who were deafened on the implanted side due to an AKN or its therapy. Prerequisite for the indication of implantation was a positive promontorial test and cochlear hearing damage.

The outcome after implantation in case of the presence of a residual tumor or recurrence (n = 9) was compared to those after R0 resection (n = 9).

In the second part of the study, hearing results after implantation were considered to be dependent on the diagnosis of neurofibromatosis type II (NFII) (nNFII = 6).

Results:

There are fewer patients without speech understanding after R0 resection than when there is a residual tumor or relapse (22% vs. 33%). However, after complete resection of the tumor fewer patients with a silverware understanding over 50% can be found (0% vs. 33%).

In case of NF II, speech understanding with CI is worse than in patients who have an AN independent of the presence of NF II.

Conclusion:

First, it can be seen that even patients with AN benefit from the supply of a CI. However, it must be informed about a reduced expectation in speech understanding compared to cochlear causes of deafness.

In case of deafness due to an AN or its therapy the supply of a CI must be weighed individually. Nevertheless, even with normakusis on the opposite side as well as in presence of residual tumors or recurrences a benefit can be recorded.

Publication History

Publication Date:
23 April 2019 (online)