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Middle cranial fossa arachnoid cysts causing sensorineural hearing loss
1Department of Otolaryngology, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Pan-Chiao, Taipei, Taiwan. tkchao83@yahoo.com
Summary
Massive middle cranial fossa arachnoid cysts can cause sensorineural hearing loss, a previously unreported symptom. This case highlights a potential link between these cysts and hearing impairment in adolescents.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Otolaryngology
- Radiology
Background:
- Arachnoid cysts are benign lesions typically asymptomatic.
- Middle cranial fossa arachnoid cysts rarely cause neurological deficits.
Observation:
- A 15-year-old girl presented with 4 years of progressive right-sided hearing loss.
- Audiometry confirmed severe sensorineural hearing loss; auditory brain stem response showed absent waves.
- MRI revealed giant bilateral middle cranial fossa arachnoid cysts compressing the right facial-acoustic nerve and affecting the cochlea/vestibule.
Findings:
- This is the first reported case of sensorineural hearing loss as a presenting symptom of middle cranial fossa arachnoid cysts.
- The hearing loss was associated with cochlear and vestibular signal intensity changes and facial-acoustic nerve atrophy.
Implications:
- Massive arachnoid cysts should be considered in the differential diagnosis of unexplained sensorineural hearing loss.
- Early diagnosis and intervention may be crucial for managing hearing deficits related to cranial cysts.