Spontaneous Shrinkage of Vestibular Schwannoma with the Recovery of Impaired Hearing: A Case Report and Literature Review

Overview

Journal Surg Neurol Int

Specialty Neurology

Date 2023 Jun 9

PMID 37292415

Authors

Ryoto Wachi

Jun Takei

Shusuke Fujita

Ken Aoki

Hiroyasu Nagashima

Yuichi Murayama

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Sporadically occurring vestibular schwannomas (VSs) are the most frequent tumors in the cerebellopontine cistern and internal meatus and are commonly associated with hearing loss. These tumors have demonstrated spontaneous shrinkage rates of 0-22%; however, the relationship between tumor shrinkage and changes in hearing remains unclear.

Case Description: We report a case of a 51-year-old woman with a diagnosis of a left-sided VS and accompanying moderate hearing loss. The patient was treated with a conservative approach for 3 years, and the tumor showed a regression along with an improvement in her hearing ability during the yearly follow-ups.

Conclusion: The spontaneous shrinkage of a VS along with an associated improvement in hearing is a rare phenomenon. Our case study may support that the "wait and scan" approach is an alternative option for patients with VS and moderate hearing loss. Further investigations are needed to understand spontaneous VS regression and hearing changes.

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