A Case of Cerebellopontine Angle Lipoma Presented as Sudden Hearing Loss

Baek, Moo Jin; Hwang, Moon Seop

Abstract

Intracranial lipomas are uncommon and rarely symptomatic benign tumors comprising 0.1% of intracranial tumors. Although they can be found in other sites of the brain, the corpus callosum is generally believed to be the most common location of these tumors. And lipomas within the cerebellopontine (C-P) angle and internal auditory canal are extremely rare. In the C-P angle region, lipomas are the most symptomatic compared in other intracranial regions, although symptoms depend on the origin site and involve neural and vascular tissues adjacent to lipomas. And hearing loss, dizziness and tinnitus are the commonly presenting symptoms. Among these symptoms, hearing loss is the most common, but sudden hearing loss, as in this case, has not been reported. Because of the potential for significant morbidity with surgical resection of these lesions, conservative follow-up is the best treatment option for patients with these rare lesion. But surgery is indicated only when significant progressive or disabling symptoms are present. We experienced a case of right side C-P angle lipoma with sudden hearing loss in a 49-year old female who showed complete recovery of hearing by conservative therapy. With a review of literature, authors report a case of right C-P angle lipoma presented as sudden hearing loss.