Facial neuroma masquerading as acoustic neuroma.

Abstract

Facial nerve neuromas are rare benign tumors that may be initially misdiagnosed as acoustic neuromas when situated near the auditory apparatus. We describe a patient with a large cystic tumor with associated trigeminal, facial, audiovestibular, and brainstem dysfunction, which was suspicious for acoustic neuroma on preoperative neuroimaging. Intraoperative investigation revealed a facial nerve neuroma located in the cerebellopontine angle and internal acoustic canal. Gross total resection of the tumor via retrosigmoid craniotomy was curative. Transection of the facial nerve necessitated facial reanimation 4 months later via hypoglossal-facial cross-anastomosis. Clinicians should recognize the natural history, diagnostic approach, and management of this unusual and mimetic lesion.

• Authors: Eli T Sayegh, Gurvinder Kaur, Michael E Ivan, Orin Bloch, Steven W Cheung, Andrew T Parsa
• Journal: Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia (J Clin Neurosci) Vol. 21 Issue 10 Pg. 1817-8 (Oct 2014) ISSN: 1532-2653 [Electronic] Scotland
• PMID: 24775608 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Cranial Nerve Neoplasms (diagnosis, pathology, surgery)
• Diagnosis, Differential
• Facial Nerve (pathology, surgery)
• Humans
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Male
• Neuroma (diagnosis, pathology, surgery)
• Neuroma, Acoustic (diagnosis, pathology, surgery)
• Young Adult