Some uncharacteristic clinical signs and symptoms of acoustic neuroma.

OBJECTIVE

The most common initial symptoms of the acoustic neuroma are unilateral hearing loss that evolves gradually, tinnitus, and unsteadiness. However, atypical presentations may sometimes occur, more often with a small intracanalicular neuroma or with a large medial neuroma placed in the cerebellopontine angle.

RESULTS

In our group of 51 patients suffering from acoustic neuroma, atypical presentations were observed in 9 cases (17.6%). Two patients had normal hearing function but reported tinnitus; two patients reported sudden hearing loss, with partial recovery; two patients had a history of fluctuating hearing loss; two patients reported neurologic symptoms (one reported trigeminal paresthesia and the other had a history of trigeminal paresthesia and recurrent headache); and one patient reported profound hearing loss for many years and the recent onset of unsteadiness.

CONCLUSION

Patients with these atypical presentations have to undergo a diagnostic evaluation for acoustic neuroma and must be evaluated with BAEPs and then with gadolinium-enhanced MRI.