Cochlear schwannoma removed through the external auditory canal by a transcanal exclusive endoscopic technique

Abstract

Surgical approaches to the inner ear and internal auditory canal (IAC) are widely known and extensively recorded. The most popular can be classified as retrosigmoid, transmastoid-translabyrinthine, and middle cranial fossa approaches. For the first time, an exclusive endoscopic approach to the IAC is described here, used to remove a cochlear schwannoma involving both the IAC and labyrinth. The operation provided a direct transcochlear intradural approach from lateral to medial and from external to internal auditory canal, without any external incision. The pathology was totally removed, and the postoperative outcome of the facial nerve was grade II (House-Brackmann grading system) at 3-month follow-up.

Keywords: Inner ear; cochlear schwannoma; endoscopic ear surgery; internal auditory canal; transcanal approach.