[Cerebellopontine angle lipoma: a case report].

A surgical case of lipoma in the cerebellopontine angle in a 37-year-old man is reported. Cerebellopontine angle lipomas are very rare lesions that differ from other intracranial lipomas in that they typically present slowly progressive focal symptoms identical to those in other tumors of this location. The patient's chief complaints were left hearing disturbance and dizzy spells. Computed tomography showed a very low density lesion (-99.3 Hounsfield units) with no enhancement in the left cerebellopontine angle. Magnetic resonance imaging (0.15T) was subsequently performed. The relative T1 weighted image showed a lesion of high signal intensity in the left cerebellopontine angle. The tumor was adherent to both the brainstem and the cranial nerves involved. On dissection, it was quite hemorrhagic. The tumor could only be partially resected because of the embedded cranial nerves and vascularity. The authors review the literature on this rare tumor and discuss the clinical appearance. Radiological assessment including CT and MRI and management of this lesion were also discussed.