Late complications of cochlear implant: a case report of necrotizing meningoencephalitis similar to a CPA tumor.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Report a case of localized necrotizing meningoencephalitis as the cause of functional hearing loss after cochlear implant (CI) surgery.

CASE REPORT:

A 12-year-old with bilateral CI presented to our quaternary center due to severe functional hearing loss after 11 years since left ear CI surgery. CT with contrast was conducted showing a CPA tumor-like mass. Pre-operative computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed at the age of 1 year showed no inner ear abnormalities and in particular no evidence of a tumor in the cerebellopontine angle (CPA).

CONCLUSION:

Following removal of the CI and the mass, histopathological, immunohistochemical and cultural examinations revealed a necrotizing meningoencephalitis, with the CI electrode as the focus.

• Authors: Vittoria Di Rubbo, Luca Morelli, Adriano Zangrandi, Lorenzo Lauda, Gianluca Piras, Mario Sanna
• Journal: European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol) Vol. 280 Issue 7 Pg. 3485-3488 (Jul 2023) ISSN: 1434-4726 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 37020047 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2023. The Author(s).

Topics

• Humans
• Child
• Cochlear Implants (adverse effects)
• Hearing Loss, Functional (surgery)
• Cochlear Implantation (adverse effects, methods)
• Neuroma, Acoustic (surgery, pathology)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (methods)
• Meningoencephalitis (diagnosis, etiology, surgery)