[Analysis of the clinical salience for sudden hearing loss in acoustic neuroma].

OBJECTIVE

To avoid misdiagnosis and misapplied therapy of acoustic neuroma.

METHODS

92 cases of acoustic neuroma treated between 1983 and 1997 were retrospectively reviewed. Among them, 20 patients (21 ears, 21.7%) presented with sudden hearing loss as the starting symptoms. The diagnosis was based on audiological and radiologic examinations.

RESULTS

The clinical and audiological analysis demonstrated that 57.1% of the ears showed hearing loss over 71 dBHL, and all ears had deteriorated ABRs. Acoustic reflex was nonreactive in all 10 ears tested. Positive findings in CT scan were 88.89%. CT pneumoencephalography or MRI provided useful information of diagnosis in those with negative findings of place CT scan.

CONCLUSION

ABR should be used as a routine test for patients with sudden deafness. When ABR was abnormal, CT scan around the internal auditory meatus was needed.