[Sudden deafness disclosing acoustic neuroma. Apropos of 16 cases]

We performed a retrospective review of the audiologic, radiologic and clinical data on 239 patients operated on for acoustic neuroma from 1987 to 1995 at Beaujon Hospital. In 16 patients or 6.6% of the total group, we identified as having experienced sudden hearing loss by history. The 16 tumors involved were 1 stade I; 8 stade II, 5 stade III and 2 stade IV. In 14 cases, the tumor was removed by translabyrinthine approach, 1 case by masto-retrosigmoid approach and 1 case by middle fossa approach. The hearing was preserved in the two latter cases. The purpose of this study is to illustrate and reaffirm the importance of a thorough neurotologic evaluation and to discuss the diagnostic methods in this select patient population.