Recovery from cisplatin-induced ototoxicity: a case report and review

We present a pediatric case report of cisplatin-induced ototoxicity with subsequent recovery. The patient experienced tinnitus and fluctuating mild high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) with a concomitant decrease in distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE). There was recovery of hearing loss and return of DPOAE at 1 year after completion of cisplatin therapy. Reports of recovery from cisplatin-induced ototoxicity in humans are limited in the literature, especially in the pediatric population. A review of cisplatin ototoxicity and mechanisms of recovery are discussed, with an emphasis on the particular chemotherapy regimen and dosing schedule in this case, given at 4-11 week intervals.