[Clinical features of delayed endolymphatic hydrops and intralabyrinthine schwannoma : An imaging-confirmed comparative case series. German version].

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to compare the clinical history and the findings in audiovestibular function tests in patients suffering from intralabyrinthine schwannoma or delayed endolymphatic hydrops (DEH).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Five patients diagnosed with intralabyrinthine schwannoma by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and five patients diagnosed with DEH by locally enhanced inner ear MRI (LEIM) were retrospectively studied.

RESULTS

All patients with intralabyrinthine schwannoma or DEH initially presented with hearing loss. Vertigo occurred in two patients with intralabyrinthine schwannoma and in all patients with DEH. While audiometry achieved poorer results for patients with intralabyrinthine schwannomas, vestibular function tests revealed normal results in about half of the patients in both groups.

CONCLUSION

Patients with intralabyrinthine schwannomas may present with clinical symptoms similar to patients suffering from other inner ear disorders like delayed endolymphatic hydrops and may obtain similar findings in audiovestibular function tests. High-resolution MR imaging with locally applied contrast agent may provide evidence of both underlying pathologies.