The prevalence of vestibular schwannoma among patients treated as sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Objective

To assess the prevalence of vestibular schwannoma (VS) in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL).

Contralateral sensorineural hearing loss after vestibular schwannoma surgery

IntroductionContralateral sensorineural hearing loss (CSNHL) after vestibular schwannoma (VS) is a severe complication, especially in those cases in which hearing preservation in the operated side was not possible. There are several theories that attempt to explain this issue, but there is no established guideline of treatment.Material and methodsWe report 4 patients treated in our institution who developed a severe CSNHL after surgery.ResultsOf the 185 cases of VS treated with surgery, 4 patients (2.2%) developed a CSNHL after VS surgery. After medical treatment, partial recovery of hearing occurred in one patient the other 3 patients presented a well-established severe SNHL.ConclusionsEstablished treatment guidelines do not exist, but the use of high doses of corticosteroids has been recommended and cochlear implant in cases with no recovery and complete hearing loss may be useful.     

突发性聋伴眩晕患者临床特点分析

目的分析突发性聋伴眩晕患者的临床资料,了解突发性聋伴眩晕患者听力损伤与前庭损伤之间的关系。方法 180例突发性聋患者分为突发性聋伴眩晕组和不伴眩晕组,对患者的年龄、性别、纯音听力测试、耳蜗电图以及前庭功能等临床资料进行分析,总结突发性聋伴眩晕患者听力和前庭损伤的发病规律。结果 180例突发性聋患者,年龄分布11～76岁,中位年龄45.00岁,其中男性106例（58.89%）,女性74例（41.11%）,男女性别比为1.43：1。①突发性聋伴眩晕的发生率为38.33%,女性患者中伴眩晕组（50.72%）明显高于不伴眩晕组（35.14%）;②听力曲线特点为全聋型曲线（38.67%）明显高于其他类型,听力损失程度以极重度聋（62.67%）为主;③66例伴眩晕的患者行前庭功能检查,58例（87.88%）出现外半规管功能下降,3例（4.55%）有优势偏向等中枢指标异常,5例（7.58%）功能正常,患者出现听力损失与前庭功能同侧损伤的发生率为65.15%,两者具有统计学一致性,不同性别间异常率无差异;④伴眩晕组合并有慢性病（高血压、高血脂、糖尿病和颈椎病）者33.33%,不伴眩晕组合并慢性病者28.83%,两组无统计学差异。结论伴眩晕的突发性聋发生率较高,约占1/3;听力损失以极重度聋为主且以全聋型听力曲线居多;耳蜗功能与前庭功能多同时受累,同侧损伤者占2/3。     

The relationship between hearing loss and vestibular dysfunction in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Objective: To investigate the relationship between hearing loss and vestibular dysfunction in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL).

Methods: Clinical data including the symptom of vertigo of 149 SSHL patients were investigated retrospectively. Pure tone audiometry, ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP) and cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) evoked by air-conducted sound (ACS), and caloric test were employed for cochlear and vestibular function assessment. The relationship between hearing level and vestibular dysfunction was analyzed.

Results: The pure tone averages (PTAs) (mean?±?SD) of SSHL patients with and without vertigo were 88.81?±?21.74 dB HL and 72.49?±?21.88 dB HL (Z?=??4.411, p?=?0.000), respectively. The PTAs of SSHL patients with abnormal and normal caloric test were 84.71?±?22.54 dB HL and 70.41?±?24.07 dB HL (t?=??2.665, p?=?0.009), respectively. Conversely, vertigo and abnormal caloric results also happened more frequently in patients with profound hearing loss. However, no consistent tendency could be found among vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) responses or hearing loss.

Conclusions: SSHL patients with vertigo or abnormal caloric test displayed worse hearing loss; and vice versa, vertigo and abnormal caloric results happened more frequently in SSHL patients with profound hearing loss.     

Hyperventilation-induced nystagmus in vestibular schwannoma and unilateral sensorineural hearing loss

We evaluated the incidence and characteristics of hyperventilation-induced nystagmus (HVN) in 49 patients with gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging evidence of vestibular schwannoma and 53 patients with idiopathic unilateral sensorineural hearing loss and normal radiological findings. The sensitivity and specificity of the hyperventilation test were compared with other audio-vestibular diagnostic tests (bedside examination of eye movements, caloric test, auditory brainstem responses) in the two groups of patients. The hyperventilation test scored the highest diagnostic efficiency (sensitivity 65.3 %; specificity 98.1 %) of the four tests in the differential diagnosis of vestibular schwannoma and idiopathic unilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Small tumors with a normal caloric response or caloric paresis were associated with ipsilateral HVN and larger tumors and severe caloric deficits with contralateral HVN. These results confirm that the hyperventilation test is a useful diagnostic test for predicting vestibular schwannoma in patients with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss.     

Screening patients with sensorineural hearing loss for vestibular schwannoma using a Bayesian classifier

Objectives: Selecting patients with asymmetrical sensorineural hearing loss for further investigation continues to pose clinical and medicolegal challenges, given the disparity between the number of symptomatic patients, and the low incidence of vestibular schwannoma as the underlying cause. We developed and validated a diagnostic model using a generalisation of neural networks, for detecting vestibular schwannomas from clinical and audiological data, and compared its performance with six previously published clinical and audiological decision‐support screening protocols. Design: Probabilistic complex data classification using a neural network generalization. Settings: Tertiary referral lateral skull base and a computational neuroscience unit. Participants: Clinical and audiometric details of 129 patients with, and as many age and sex‐matched patients without vestibular schwannomas, as determined with magnetic resonance imaging. Main outcome measures: The ability to diagnose a patient as having or not having vestibular schwannoma. Results: A Gaussian Process Ordinal Regression Classifier was trained and cross‐validated to classify cases as ‘with’ or ‘without’ vestibular schwannoma, and its diagnostic performance was assessed using receiver operator characteristic plots. It proved possible to pre‐select sensitivity and specificity, with an area under the curve of 0.8025. At 95% sensitivity, the trained system had a specificity of 56%, 30% better than audiological protocols with closest sensitivities. The sensitivities of previously‐published audiological protocols ranged between 82–97%, and their specificities ranged between 15–61%. Discussion: The Gaussian Process ORdinal Regression Classifier increased the flexibility and specificity of the screening process for vestibular schwannoma when applied to a sample of matched patients with and without this condition. If applied prospectively, it could reduce the number of ‘normal’ magnetic resonance (MR) scans by as much as 30% without reducing detection sensitivity. Performance can be further improed through incorporating additional data domains. Current findings need to be reproduced using a larger dataset.     

突发性聋的药物治疗

目的 分析药物治疗突发性聋的效果。方法回顾分析 906例突发性聋经11组不同药物治疗的效果比较组间疗效差异。第1组 ATP加B族维生素,第2组ATP654Ⅱ。第3组以葛根黄酮为主,第4、5、6组分别是氢化可的松、泛影葡胺、川芎嗪,第7组尼莫地平,第8组常用VitB1,第9、10组均为葛根素,第11组为麦普宁。结果 3-11组各组经不同药物治疗疗效差异并不明显(P>0.05);1、2两组疗效较差,与3-11 组比较差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论 突发性聋病因不明,临床治疗方案尚不统一,理应建立有确切疗效的治疗方案。此外,选用ATP时应持审慎态度。     

The prevalence and clinical characteristics of vestibular schwannoma among patients treated as sudden sensorineural hearing loss: A 10-year retrospective study in southern China

PurposeTo review the prevalence and clinical characteristics of vestibular schwannoma (VS) in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) in southern China.Materials and methodsThis study examined the medical records and MRI findings of all the 1249 patients diagnosed with SSNHL between May 2009 and April 2019 in the Division of Otolaryngology at Peking University Shenzhen Hospital.ResultsAmong the 1249 patients with SSNHL, VS was found in 14 (1.12%). Among 14 patients, 11 (78.6%) complained of tinnitus and 3 patients (21.4%) complained of dizziness as accompanying symptoms. There was one patient with SSNHL in right ear who had an incidental finding of VS in the contralateral ear. 2 patients (14.3%) had normal auditory brainstem response (ABR) test and 3 patients (21.4%) had hearing recovery. The size of tumors ranged from 6.1 mm to 24.2 mm, with 7 grade 1 tumors, 4 grade 2 tumors, and 3 grade 3 tumors. The total MRI screening cost was $130,857 and the average MRI cost for identifying a VS patient was $9346.ConclusionThe prevalence of VS among patients treated as SSNHL was 1.12%. Predicting the risk of VS in SSNHL by the audiogram patterns, pure tone audiometry or hearing recovery is not relivable. Compared with ABR, MRI is more suitable for the assessment of VS in patients with SSNHL in China.     

突发性极重度聋与全聋的预后特点及差异

Objective To clarify the different prognostic characteristics between profound sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) and total SSNHL. Methods The patients with SSNHL who visited Eye Ear Nose and Throat Hospital from June 2007 to September 2008 were reviewed retrospectively. All the 204 patients, with pure tone average (PTA) threshold more than 90 dB, were enrolled and divided into two groups, including total SSNHL and profound SSNHL groups. The relationship between recovery rate and prognostic factors including the age, complications, time period between onset and therapy was analyzed.Results There were 57 cases of total SSNHL and 147 cases of profound SSNHL in this series. Tinnitus was complained in more than 90% of the patients in both groups, which was higher than that of dizziness and ear fullness. Dizziness was present in 64. 9% (37/57) patient with total SSNHL group and 45.6% (67/147)patients with profound SSNHL, which had significant difference between the two groups (x2 = 5.72,P =0. 017). The PTA threshold improvement in total SSNHL group and profound SSNHL group was (36. 4 ±19.3) dB and (40. 2 ±21.3) dB respectively, which was no significant difference between the two groups (t = 1. 165 ,P =0. 245). The cured patients were all those received therapy within 1 week following the onset of SSNHL, which was of 2. 6% (1/38) patients in the total SSNHL group and 14. 3% (14/98) patients in the profound SSNHL group(P =0. 045). Furthermore, 3.5% (2/57) patients in total SSNHL group as well as 29. 9% (44/147) patients in profound SSNHL group obtained a good result with PTA threshold ≤50 dB after therapy(x2 = 15.92,P = 0. 001 ). In addition, the favorable prognosis was related with the onsettherapy time point( P = 0. 001 ), but not related to the patients' age. Conclusion Profound SSNHL and total SSNHL though both with PTA threshold > 90 dB had significant differences recovery rate and need to be studied separately.     

突发性极重度聋与全聋的预后特点及差异

Objective To clarify the different prognostic characteristics between profound sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) and total SSNHL. Methods The patients with SSNHL who visited Eye Ear Nose and Throat Hospital from June 2007 to September 2008 were reviewed retrospectively. All the 204 patients, with pure tone average (PTA) threshold more than 90 dB, were enrolled and divided into two groups, including total SSNHL and profound SSNHL groups. The relationship between recovery rate and prognostic factors including the age, complications, time period between onset and therapy was analyzed.Results There were 57 cases of total SSNHL and 147 cases of profound SSNHL in this series. Tinnitus was complained in more than 90% of the patients in both groups, which was higher than that of dizziness and ear fullness. Dizziness was present in 64. 9% (37/57) patient with total SSNHL group and 45.6% (67/147)patients with profound SSNHL, which had significant difference between the two groups (x2 = 5.72,P =0. 017). The PTA threshold improvement in total SSNHL group and profound SSNHL group was (36. 4 ±19.3) dB and (40. 2 ±21.3) dB respectively, which was no significant difference between the two groups (t = 1. 165 ,P =0. 245). The cured patients were all those received therapy within 1 week following the onset of SSNHL, which was of 2. 6% (1/38) patients in the total SSNHL group and 14. 3% (14/98) patients in the profound SSNHL group(P =0. 045). Furthermore, 3.5% (2/57) patients in total SSNHL group as well as 29. 9% (44/147) patients in profound SSNHL group obtained a good result with PTA threshold ≤50 dB after therapy(x2 = 15.92,P = 0. 001 ). In addition, the favorable prognosis was related with the onsettherapy time point( P = 0. 001 ), but not related to the patients' age. Conclusion Profound SSNHL and total SSNHL though both with PTA threshold > 90 dB had significant differences recovery rate and need to be studied separately.     

突发性极重度聋与全聋的预后特点及差异

目的 研究突发性极重度聋和全聋的预后特点及差异.方法 回顾性研究复旦大学附属眼耳鼻喉科医院2007年6月至2008年9月收治的初始平均纯音听阈(pure tone average,PTA)>90 dB、随访完整的204例患者,分为全聋和极重度聋两组,对两组的预后进行比较,并对预后与年龄、并发症、发病-就诊时间进行相关性分析.结果 全聋组57例,极重度聋组147例,耳鸣、眩晕、耳闷三大伴随症状中,耳鸣的伴随率最高,两组均达90%以上,眩晕的伴随率全聋组为64.9%(37/57),极重度聋组为45.6%(67/147),两组间差异有统计学意义(x2=5.72,P=0.017).治疗后全聋组PTA下降(36.4±19.3)dB,极重度聋组下降(40.2±21. 3)dB,差异无统计学意义(t=1.165,P=0.245).两组痊愈者均为1周内接受治疗者,全聋组痊愈率为2.6%(1/38),极重度聋组为14.3%(14/98),两组间差异有统计学意义(Fisher确切概率法,P=0.045).全聋组治疗后PTA≤50 dB的患者占3.5%(2/57),极重度聋组达29.9%(44/147),两组间差异有统计学意义(x2=15.92,P=0.001).两组的预后与发病-就诊的时间有关(P值均为0.01),与年龄无关.结论 初始PTA>90 dB的突发性聋可分为极重度聋与全聋,两者预后有差异,需分开进行研究.     

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss as a revealing symptom of vestibular schwannoma

CONCLUSIONS: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) is a frequent symptom of vestibular schwannoma (VS), often reveals small VSs and does not exhibit specific features. Therefore, every case of SSHL should be evaluated using systematic MRI to rule out VS in order to improve hearing and preservation facial nerve function. OBJECTIVE: SSHL leads to the discovery of a VS in a small proportion of cases (2%). However, SSHL appears to be a more frequent occurrence in the history of patients with VS (3-23% in the literature), suggesting a large disparity in the evaluation of SSHL. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 139 consecutive unilateral VSs operated on between 2000 and 2002 were reviewed and analyzed regarding the prevalence, clinical and audiological features of SSHL and their relation to the size of the tumor. RESULTS: SSHL was observed in 20% of cases at some point in their VS history. The characteristics of SSHL were: (i) lack of a specific audiometric pattern, except that low-tone loss was rare; and (ii) a high rate of hearing recovery (50%). Tumor size was significantly smaller in SSHL-associated VSs compared to other VSs. In the former cases, 96% involved the internal auditory canal.     

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss as a revealing symptom of vestibular schwannoma

Conclusions

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) is a frequent symptom of vestibular schwannoma (VS), often reveals small VSs and does not exhibit specific features. Therefore, every case of SSHL should be evaluated using systematic MRI to rule out VS in order to improve hearing and preservation facial nerve function.

Objective

SSHL leads to the discovery of a VS in a small proportion of cases (2%). However, SSHL appears to be a more frequent occurrence in the history of patients with VS (3–23% in the literature), suggesting a large disparity in the evaluation of SSHL.

Material and methods

A total of 139 consecutive unilateral VSs operated on between 2000 and 2002 were reviewed and analyzed regarding the prevalence, clinical and audiological features of SSHL and their relation to the size of the tumor.

Results

SSHL was observed in 20% of cases at some point in their VS history. The characteristics of SSHL were: (i) lack of a specific audiometric pattern, except that low-tone loss was rare; and (ii) a high rate of hearing recovery (50%). Tumor size was significantly smaller in SSHL-associated VSs compared to other VSs. In the former cases, 96% involved the internal auditory canal.     

双侧与单侧突发性聋的临床特点及疗效分析

目的：分析与比较双侧与单侧突发性聋的临床特点与疗效。方法：对333例突发性聋患者（单侧315例，双侧18例）资料进行回顾性研究。结果：双侧突发性聋占突发性聋患者的5．4％，单侧和双侧突发性聋的发病年龄、性别比例、就诊时间、伴随症状差异无统计学意义。5例（27．8％）双侧突发性聋患者并发有糖尿病，概率高于单侧的9．8％（P〈0．05）。单侧者突发性聋的听力损失程度比双侧者严重，但它的疗效较好（二者总有效率分别为58．4％和13．9％）。就诊越早，越早使用激素，突发性聋的疗效越好。结论：单侧突发性聋更常见，双侧突发性聋并发糖尿病者更多。双侧突发性聋预后比单侧差。越早激素治疗疗效越好。     

以突聋为首发表现的颅内肿瘤病例临床特征分析

目的 描述以突聋为表现的颅内肿瘤病例临床特征,探讨听力学、影像学及实验室检查指标,以便更好的指导临床鉴别诊断,早期确定有效治疗方案.方法 对4例以突聋为首发表现的颅内肿瘤患者的临床资料进行系统性分析,包括临床表现、听力学检查、影像学检查及治疗方法和疗效评估等,归纳总结该病发生发展及转归的特点.结果 4例患者中有3名男性,1名女性,均无明显诱因出现突发性听力下降.其中2例伴有持续高调耳鸣,1例伴有耳鸣及眩晕,1例无耳鸣及眩晕表现.听力学检查结果显示:4例患者颅内占位侧听力均表现为重度或极重度感音神经性聋,镫骨肌声反射均不能引出;3例患者听性脑干反应高低刺激和耳声发射均未引出,声发射均未引出;1例仅见Ⅰ波,耳声发射部分引出反应.前庭功能检查示:1例右侧水平半规管功能低下,1例正常,2例未查.核磁共振检查发现:1例为左侧后颅窝良性肿瘤性病变,表皮样囊肿可能性大;1例为右侧颞叶囊肿;2例为右侧听神经鞘瘤.经系统的耳内科保守治疗后,1例听力基本恢复正常,眩晕症状消失,耳鸣缓解;1例耳鸣缓解;2例无效.结论 在接诊以突发性听力损失为首发症状的患者时,要考虑到有颅内占位性病变的可能性.ABR、声反射检查、言语识别率和前庭功能检查均有重要的提示意义.对于微小听神经瘤,早期可以通过耳内科治疗缓解症状.颅内占位病变的确诊还要依赖CT和MRI检查.     

Modified intratympanic treatment for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Steroids are the only proven drugs in the treatment for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. In the recent studies, it has been suggested that, steroids delivered through the intratympanic route obtained higher perilymph levels, resulting in better hearing outcomes. The purpose of this study is to compare the hearing outcomes of the two routes of steroid treatment: intratympanic route and systemic route. In this prospective study, 60 consecutive patients with idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss treated between January 2005 and September 2008 were enrolled: 29 were in the intratympanic steroid group (ITSG) and 31 were in the systemic steroid group (SSG). In the ITSG, 5 intratympanic injections of dexamethasone were performed with the dose of 4 mg/ml, consecutively. Oral methylprednisolone was given at the dose of 1 mg/kg, tapered every 2 days and stopped at 10 days, in the SSG. The pure tone averages (PTA), speech discrimination scores (SDS) and the percentage of the patients who made an improvement more than 10 dB were analyzed on the tenth day and 2 months after the treatment statistically. The improvement in PTA on tenth day and second month after treatment was 31.38 and 37.55 dB, in the ITSG and 19.35 and 20.68 dB in the SSG, respectively. The improvement in SDS in the same time period was 35.24 and 37.52% in the ITSG and 20.13 and 19.61% in the SSG, respectively. Also, 25 of the 29 patients (86.2%) in the ITSG and 16 of the 31 patients (51.6%) in the SSG made an improvement more than 10 dB on PTA in the second month control. Intratympanic steroids gave better hearing results than systemic steroids with no systemic side effects. Studies with more sample sizes will identify the best steroid for injection, application time, frequency and dose.     

继发突发性聋的良性阵发性位置性眩晕

目的 回顾性分析继发于突发性聋的良性阵发性位置性眩晕(benign paroxysmal positional vertigo,BPPV)的临床特点,并探讨该病的诊断与治疗特点.方法 突发性聋伴BPPV患者19例,全部进行了手法复位治疗,并评价其治疗效果.结果女性患者63.2％,男性36.8％;本组BPPV均继发于突发...