NEURINOMA DEL ACÚSTICO

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The acoustic neuroma (AN) is the most frequent among the cerebellopontine tumors. It is a benign mass, but with an unpredictable behavior therefore its treatment of choice is surgery. It has to be suspected when a progressive unilateral sudden hearing loss with or without vertigo or instability and tinnitus is presented. Between a 3-23% of the patients with an AN, according to different series, consult because of sudden hearing loss. Instead, 2% of the patients with sudden hearing loss will eventually show an AN.METHODS AND MATERIAL: Male, 47, came to the ENT consult because of an intense tinnitus and sudden hearing loss, affecting the left ear. The physical exploration was normal. In the audiometry a preceptive hearing loss, with a loss of 62.5dB on average, was found in that ear. Before the sudden hearing loss of the left ear a MRI petition was made, which revealed a mass in the left cerebellopontine angle and inner auditory canal with compression of the annex structures, suggestive of an AN.RESULTS: A transfer to the Neurosurgery service of Hospital Santiago Apósol in Vitoria was decided, where a transpetrous surgical approach and an apicectomy were performed. Afterwards the patient remains disease free until now, six months after the intervention.CONCLUSION: When the appearance of tinnitus and sudden hearing loss occurs, an imaging test (MRI) should be made so a cerebellopontine mass can be ruled out.