Cavernous angiomas of the internal auditory canal. A case report and review of literature.

Cavernous angiomas of the internal auditory canal (IAC) are rare. They are angiographically occult; and because the clinical symptoms are similar both in intracanalicular cavernous angiomas and acoustic tumors it had been difficult to differentiate pre-operatively both of these pathologies until the advent of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Even nowadays the correct diagnosis may be missed if the patient is imaged only with gadolinium enhanced MRI without prior obtaining a non-contrast MRI. These diagnostic difficulties are illustrated by the report of a related case. The importance of thorough neuroradiological investigations stressed and MRI features, surgical management and relevant literature concerning the cavernous angiomas of the internal auditory canal are discussed.