Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Atypical haemangioma of the internal auditory meatus: a case report

  • Neuro-Otology
  • Published:
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and Head & Neck Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Haemangiomas involving the internal auditory meatus (IAM) are rare and can mimic other frequent lesions of the IAM such as schwannomas by their clinical and imaging aspects. The case of a patient with an atypical IAM haemangioma fluctuating in size is reported to highlight this diagnostic possibility. A 36-year-old female presented with a sudden and recurrent left sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Three consecutive MRIs were performed in a 10-month period of preoperative observation. They showed a fluctuation of the tumour signal and size. The surgical removal was performed via a translabyrinthine approach. Pathological findings were consistent with the diagnosis of a heamangioma. MRI and CT findings suggested the diagnosis of IAM heamangioma, but the rapid variation in size and signal was misleading. This phenomenon may be due to haemorrhage or oedema, and can be accompanied by a deterioration of the hearing function. Early surgical resection is the treatment of choice and allows to confirm the diagnosis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Brackmann DE, Bartels LJ (1980) Rare tumors of cerebellopontine angle. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 88:555–559

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Bohrer PS, Chole RA (1996) Unusual lesions of the internal auditory canal. Am J Otol 17:143–149

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Saleh E, Nagib M, Russo A, Taibah A, Sanna M (1993) Vascular malformation of the internal auditory canal. J Laryngol Otol 107:1039–1042

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Hanamitsu M, Okumura K, Yasawa Y, Fukui J, Suzuki M (2004) Cavernous haemangioma of the internal auditory canal: a case report. J Clin Neurosci 11:337–340

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Linskey ME, Janetta PJ, Martinez AJ (1991) Avascular malformation mimicking an intracanalicular acoustic neurilemoma. J Neurosurg 74:516–519

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Eby TL, Fisch U, Makek MS (1992) Facial nerve management in temporal bone haemangiomas. Am J Otol 13:223–232

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Shaida AM, McFerran DJ, Cruz M, Hardy DG, Moffat DA (2000) Cavernous haemangioma of the internal auditory canal. J Laryngol Otol 114:453–455

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Martin N, Sterkers O, Nahum H (1992) Haemangioma of the petrous bone: MRI. Neuroradiology 34:420–422

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Curtin HD, Jenson JF, Barnes L, May M (1987) Ossifying hemangioma of the temporal bone: evaluation with CT. Radiology 164:831–835

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. McCormick WF, Hardman JM, Boulter TR (1968) Vascular malformations (« angiomas ») of the brain, with special reference to those occurring in the posterior fossa. J Neurosurg 28:241–251

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Batsakis JG (1979) Tumours of Head and Neck: clinical and pathological considerations, 2nd edn. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore

    Google Scholar 

  12. Omojola MF, Hawashim NSA, Zuwayed MA, Ferayan AA (1997) CT and MRI features of cavernous haemangioma of internal auditory canal. Br J Radiol 70:1184–1187

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Morisson GAJ, Sterkers JM (1996) Unusual presentations of acoustic tumours. Clin Otolaryngol 21:80–83

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Lipkin AF, Coker NJ, Jenkins HA, Alford BR (1987) Intracranial and intratemporal facial neuroma. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 96:71–79

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Krainik A, Cyna-Gorse F, Bouccara D, Cazals-Hatem D, Vilgrain V, Denys A, Rey A, Sterkers O, Menu Y (2001) MRI of unusual lesions in the internal auditory canal. Neuroradiology 43:52–57

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Lo WW, Shelton C, Waluch V, Solti-Bohman LG, Carberry JN, Brackmann DE, Wade CT (1989) Intratemporal vascular tumours: detection with CT and MRI imaging. Radiology 17:443–448

    Google Scholar 

  17. Moffat DA, Saunders JE, McElveen JT, McFerran DJ, Hardy DG (1993) Unusual cerebello-pontine tumours. J Laryngol Otol 107:1087–1098

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Hasegawa T, Kida Y, Kobayashi T, Yoshimoto M, Mori Y, Yoshida J (2005) Long-term outcomes in patients with vestibular schwannomas treated using gamma knife surgery: 10-year follow up. J Neurosurg 102:10–16

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Greinwald JH, Lassen LF (1997) Lipomas of internal auditory canal. Laryngoscope 107:364–368

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Bottrill JD, Poe DS (1995) Imaging Quiz: intra osseous cavernous type hemangioma of the petrous temporal bone. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 121:348–350

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Otolaryngology Department, Hôpital Beaujon, AP-HP, 100 Boulevard du Général Leclerc, 92118, Clichy, France

    Afaf Refass, Alexis Bozorg Grayeli, Didier Bouccara, Mustapha Ismail & Olivier Sterkers

  2. Inserm EMI-U 0112 Faculté Xavier Bichat, Université Paris 7, Paris, France

    Alexis Bozorg Grayeli, Didier Bouccara & Olivier Sterkers

  3. Department of Radiology, Hôpital Beaujon, AP-HP, Clichy, France

    Francoise Cyna-Gorse

  4. Department of Pathology, Hôpital Beaujon, AP-HP, Clichy, France

    Dominique Cazals-Hatem

Authors
  1. Afaf Refass
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Alexis Bozorg Grayeli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Didier Bouccara
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mustapha Ismail
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Francoise Cyna-Gorse
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Dominique Cazals-Hatem
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Olivier Sterkers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alexis Bozorg Grayeli.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Refass, A., Bozorg Grayeli, A., Bouccara, D. et al. Atypical haemangioma of the internal auditory meatus: a case report. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 263, 627–631 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-006-0035-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-006-0035-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation