The prevalence of vestibular schwannoma among patients treated as sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Abstract

Objective: To assess the prevalence of vestibular schwannoma (VS) in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL).

Methods: This is a retrospective chart review of 861 patients who were diagnosed with or treated for SSHNL between January 2008 and February 2017 at our department in a tertiary academic center. We retrospectively analyzed the medical charts and MRI findings of 499 patients who had undergone MRI.

Results: Fifteen (3.0%) of the 499 patients exhibited tumors at the cerebellopontine angle on the same side affected by SSNHL. In one patient, a tumor was incidentally detected in the contralateral ear. The 15 VS lesions were graded using the Koos acoustic neuroma grading system as follows: grade I (intracanalicular tumor), n=8; grade II (up to 2cm), n=6; and grade III (up to 3cm), n=1. Koos grade IV tumors, which are large tumors that displace the trunk or cranial nerves, were not found.

Conclusion: The prevalence of VS in patients with SSNHL was 3.0% in the present study. Considering this high prevalence, clinicians should consider detailed examinations in addition to audiometry for patients with SSNHL.

Keywords: Acoustic neuroma; Brain tumor; Cerebellopontine angle; Sudden sensorineural hearing loss; Vestibular schwannoma.