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Central hearing loss with a bilateral inferior colliculus lesion
Dick L Hoistad1, Timmothy C Hain
1Department of Otolaryngology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Ill. 60611-3008, USA. t-hain@northwestern.edu
Audiology & Neuro-Otology
|March 14, 2003
Summary
Central nervous system lymphoma can cause bilateral inferior colliculus lesions. This may lead to severely reduced word recognition despite nearly normal pure-tone hearing in patients.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Otolaryngology
- Oncology
Background:
- Central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma is a rare malignancy affecting the brain, spinal cord, or meninges.
- The inferior colliculus (IC), a key auditory processing center in the midbrain, is an uncommon site for CNS lymphoma.
- Lesions in the IC can manifest with diverse neurological and auditory symptoms.
Observation:
- A 43-year-old male patient presented with bilateral lesions in the inferior colliculi.
- Diagnostic imaging confirmed the lesions were caused by CNS lymphoma.
- Audiological evaluation revealed normal pure-tone averages but significantly impaired word recognition scores bilaterally.
Findings:
- The case highlights a specific auditory presentation of bilateral inferior colliculus lesions.
- Severely reduced word recognition scores, indicative of impaired speech processing, were observed.
- This occurred in the presence of relatively preserved pure-tone hearing thresholds.
Implications:
- This presentation underscores the importance of comprehensive audiological testing, including speech discrimination, in patients with suspected or confirmed IC lesions.
- It suggests that CNS lymphoma affecting the IC can disproportionately impact higher-order auditory functions.
- Understanding such specific clinical manifestations aids in earlier diagnosis and targeted management of CNS lymphoma involving auditory pathways.