Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2008 Feb;51(2):178-182.

A Case of Trigeminal Schwannoma Mimicking Meniere's Disease

• Lee CH
• Jin JW
• Kim CH
• Kim CW

Abstract

Meniere's disease is diagnosed by excluding other possible causes of symptoms characterized by relapsed vertigo, aural fullness, hearing loss and tinnitus. Several disease entities may mimic Meniere's disease when the disease does not manifest its own characteristic findings. We present the case of a 40-year-old male patient who was suffering from the spontaneous and repeated onset of vertigo, and complaining of aural fullness, hearing loss and tinnitus in his left ear. A diagnosis of definite Meniere's disease was made and medical treatment was applied with diuretics. One year later, he complained of a tingling sensation in his face, and MRI revealed an intracranial mass. Mass excision was performed with subtemporal approach and operative findings revealed trigeminal schwannoma. We supposed that the tumor might have compromised his vascularity and altered his CSF dynamics, leading to symptoms mimicking Meniere's disease. Trigeminal schwannoma should be considered as an exclusion category of Meniere's disease, and MRI is necessary to exclude the central lesion

Keyword

Meniere's disease; Trigeminal nerve; Schwannoma; MRI

MeSH Terms

Adult
Diuretics
Ear
Hearing Loss
Humans
Hydrazines
Male
Meniere Disease
Neurilemmoma
Sensation
Stress, Psychological
Tinnitus
Trigeminal Nerve
Vertigo
Diuretics
Hydrazines