Cochlear implantation concurrent with translabyrinthine acoustic neuroma resection.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Cochlear implants provide successful auditory rehabilitation for patients with profound sensorineural hearing loss who do not derive at least marginal benefit from conventional hearing aids. Patients with neurofibromatosis type 2 can present with bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss caused by bilateral vestibular schwannomas. Auditory rehabilitation in these patients can be challenging. We present the case of one such patient who underwent a concurrent translabyrinthine vestibular schwannoma resection and cochlear implantation in the same ear.

STUDY

DESIGN

A case report and review of the literature.

METHODS

Review the patient's medical record and MEDLINE literature search.

RESULTS

The patient presented with a relatively small tumor that was situated in the fundus of the internal auditory canal with intralabyrinthine extension. Postoperative performance with implant stimulation was in the higher range of that for other cochlear implant patients.

CONCLUSIONS

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case reported of simultaneous cochlear implant and translabyrinthine acoustic neuroma resection in the same ear of a patient with neurofibromatosis type 2.