Lesions of the cerebellopontine angle and internal auditory canal: diagnosis and differential diagnosis.

Schwannoma of the eighth cranial nerve (acoustic neuroma) is, by far, the most common cerebellopontine angle lesion. There is, however, a wide variety of differential diagnostic possibilities that must be considered when viewing images of patients with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), vertigo, and dizziness. This communication is intended to provide the reader with an approach to this problem. Detailed anatomy of the region is also included in this communication.