Radiological quiz. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss due to multiple sclerosis

Objective

A case with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) owing to multiple sclerosis (MS) who had clinical and dramatic radiological improvement just after medical therapy was reported in this article.

Method

Case report and review of related literature.

Results

A 22-year-old female patient with MS related SSNHL was presented in this article. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an MS plaque localized at pons extending from right cochlear nucleus to proximal part of the right cochlear nerve. Most dramatic recovery was present in the 5th day control MRI, where the plaque located on pons disappeared completely. On the 10th day control audiogram hearing recovery was observed and pure tone audiogram levels were almost normal.

Conclusion

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss owing to MS is seen more common than expected. It has good prognosis. Magnetic resonance imaging is also thought to have an important role in diagnosis and treatment efficacy of SSNHL owing to MS.