Cerebellopontine angle meningiomas with primary otologic symptoms

Abstract

The majority of cerebellopontine angle (CPA) tumors are acoustic neuromas (AN). However, an intracranial meningioma may occur at this site and will produce symptoms similar to an AN. The most common presenting symptoms of CPA meningiomas are hearing loss, tinnitus, dizziness and dysequilibrium. It cannot be easily distinquished from an AN only on the history and physical examination. Even with an audiogram, evoked response audiometry (ERA) and vestibular function tests, it still cannot be distinquished. CT scan and MRI are helpful in differentiating these two tumors radiographically. In this article, we report two cases of CPA meningiomas which presented with otologic symptoms. The diagnosis and treatment of CPA meningioma is discussed.