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Atypical clinical presentations of vestibular schwannomas.

Mackle T, Rawluk D, Walsh RM

Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. mackle_tara@hotmail.com

A significant number of patients with vestibular schwannomas present atypically, with none of the classical symptoms of unilateral sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and/or dysequilibrium. The aim of this study is to highlight those patients with unusual clinical symptoms. STUDY DESIGN: The clinical data of all patients who presented to the vestibular schwannoma clinic at Beaumont Hospital over the past 12 years was prospectively recorded in a computerized database. This paper reviews the atypical presenting symptoms. RESULTS: Three hundred ninety-eight patients were included in this study. A total of 3.7% of patients presented with atypical symptoms only. CONCLUSION: A significant subgroup, 3.7% in our study, did not present with the audiovestibular symptoms classically associated with vestibular schwannoma. Clinician awareness of the atypical clinical symptoms may lead to earlier detection of these lesions.

Published 28 May 2007 in Otol Neurotol, 28(4): 526-8.
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