A Case of Intralabyrinthine Schwannoma that Mimicked Meniere's Disease

ABSTRACT

Intralabyrinthine schwannomas are rare benign tumors that arise from the terminal ends of the eighth cranial nerve. These may involve the cochlea, vestibule, or semicircular canals. These tumors are uncommon, and were diagnosed incidentally either during labyrinthectomy or at autopsy. The increasing use of the MRI in the diagnostic assessment of patients with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss or tinnitus has led to the diagnosis of intralabyrinthine schwannomas. Because the clinical symptoms of intralabyrinthine schwannomas and other otologic disorders, particularly Meniere's disease, are so similar, diagnosis of intralabyrinthine schwannomas is challenging. We report a patient with intralabyrinthine schwannoma, who had been misdiagnosed as having Meniere's disease. With the aid of MRI, intralabyrinthine schwannoma was detected and removed successfully by translabyrinthine approach.