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Magnetic resonance imaging: is a single scan ever enough for the diagnosis of acoustic neuroma?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 October 2006

M D Kernohan
Affiliation:
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
K J Blackmore
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Freeman Road Hospital, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
I J M Johnson
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Freeman Road Hospital, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
I Zammit-Maempel
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, Freeman Road Hospital, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK

Abstract

A patient presented with unilateral, right-sided hearing loss and tinnitus and underwent gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A pure tone audiogram showed a right-sided sensorineural hearing loss. The MRI scan was initially negative but when repeated seven years later, following a further deterioration of symptoms, it showed a 2 mm, right-sided acoustic neuroma.

This case has great potential significance for the diagnosis of acoustic neuroma, and it may raise medico-legal issues regarding the exclusion of this diagnosis. The case illustrates that a single negative scan may not be adequate if pure tone audiograms show deterioration in hearing loss.

Type
Clinical Records
Copyright
2006 JLO (1984) Limited

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