Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-gtxcr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-23T12:07:52.725Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Magnetic resonance imaging of the internal auditory meatus for vestibular schwannoma in ENT practice: a retrospective analysis with literature and guidelines review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 October 2021

M B Perera*
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, Warwick Hospital, South Warwickshire NHS FoundationTrust, Warwick, UK
N Janjua
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, Warwick Hospital, South Warwickshire NHS FoundationTrust, Warwick, UK
R Swaminathan
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, Warwick Hospital, South Warwickshire NHS FoundationTrust, Warwick, UK
C Apthorp
Affiliation:
Department of Surgery, North Manchester General Hospital, Manchester, UK
H B Al-Deerawi
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, Warwick Hospital, South Warwickshire NHS FoundationTrust, Warwick, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Dr. M B Perera, Warwick Hospital, South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust, Lakin Road, WarwickCV34 5BW, UK E-mail: mukun82@yahoo.co.uk

Abstract

Objectives

Magnetic resonance imaging scans of the internal acoustic meatus are commonly requested in the investigation of audio-vestibular symptoms for potential vestibular schwannoma. There have been multiple studies into protocols for requesting magnetic resonance imaging for vestibular schwannoma, but none have been reported based on UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines for investigating audio-vestibular symptoms. This study intended to identify the local magnetic resonance imaging detection rates and patterns of vestibular schwannoma, and to audit the conformity of scan requests with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines, with a review of relevant literature.

Method

A retrospective analysis of 1300 magnetic resonance imaging scans of the internal acoustic meatus, compared against National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines, was conducted over two years.

Results and conclusion

Sixteen scans were positive for vestibular schwannoma, with a detection rate of 1.23 per cent. All positive cases fit the guidelines; three of these could have been missed using other criteria. A total of 281 requests did not meet the guideline criteria but revealed no positive results, supporting the use of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines in planning magnetic resonance imaging scans for audio-vestibular symptoms.

Type
Review Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of J.L.O. (1984) LIMITED

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

Dr. M B Perera takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

Presented as a poster at the British Academic Conference of Otolaryngology (BACO) International Virtual meeting, 10–12 January 2021 (Online), Birmingham, UK

References

Gupta, VK, Thakker, A, Gupta, KK. Vestibular schwannoma: what we know and where we are heading. Head Neck Pathol 2020;14:1058–66CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Evans, DGR, Moran, A, King, A, Saeed, S, Gurusinghe, N, Ramsden, R. Incidence of vestibular schwannoma and neurofibromatosis 2 in the North West of England over a 10-year period: higher incidence than previously thought. Otol Neurotol 2005;26:93–7CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dawes, PJD, Mehta, D, Arullendran, P. Screening for vestibular schwannoma: magnetic resonance imaging findings and management. J Laryngol Otol 2000;114:584–8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kshettry, VR, Hsieh, JK, Ostrom, QT, Kruchko, C, Barnholtz-Sloan, JS. Incidence of vestibular schwannomas in the United States. J Neurooncol 2015;124:223–8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Hearing loss in adults: assessment and management. NICE guideline NG98. In: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng98/resources/hearing-loss-in-adults-assessment-and-management-pdf-1837761878725 [22 February 2022]Google Scholar
Ftouh, S, Harrop-Griffiths, K, Harker, M, Munro, KJ, Leverton, T; Guideline Committee. Hearing loss in adults, assessment and management: summary of NICE guidance. BMJ 2018;361:k2219CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sheppard, IJ, Milford, CAM, Anslow, P. MRI in the detection of acoustic neuromas — a suggested protocol for screening. Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci 1996;21:301–4CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dawes, PJD. Audit of regional screening guidelines for vestibular schwannoma. J Laryngol Otol 1998;112:860–4CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Obholzer, RJ, Rea, PA, Harcourt, JP. Magnetic resonance imaging screening for vestibular schwannoma: analysis of published protocols. J Laryngol Otol 2004;118:329–32CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Welling, DB, Glasscock, ME, Woods, CI, Jackson, CG. Acoustic neuroma: a cost-effective approach. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1990;103:364–70CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Singh, K, Singh, MP, Thukral, CL, Rao, K, Singh, K, Singh, A. Role of magnetic resonance imaging in evaluation of cerebellopontine angle schwannomas. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2014;67:21–7CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mirza, S, Malik, TH, Ahmed, A, Willatt, DJ, Hughes, DG. Incidental findings on magnetic resonance imaging screening for cerebellopontine angle tumours. J Laryngol Otol 2000;114:750–4Google ScholarPubMed
Papanikolaou, V, Khan, MH, Keogh, IJ. Incidental findings on MRI scans of patients presenting with audiovestibular symptoms. BMC Ear Nose Throat Disord 2010;10:1016CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Basu, S, Youngs, R, Mitchell-Innes, A. Screening for vestibular schwannoma in the context of an ageing population. J Laryngol Otol 2019;133:640–9Google ScholarPubMed
Harcourt, JP, Vijaya-Sekaran, S, Loney, E, Lennox, P. The incidence of symptoms consistent with cerebellopontine angle lesions in a general ENT out-patient clinic. J Laryngol Otol 1999;113:518–22CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nash, R, Majithia, A, Singh, A. The agreement between protocols for the investigation of asymmetrical audiovestibular symptoms. J Int Adv Otol 2016;12:98100CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed