Complete Hearing Restoration in Vestibular Schwannoma with Repeated Sudden Hearing Loss

Neither the pathophysiological features nor the treatment strategy for sudden hearing loss in vestibular schwannoma have yet been generally agreed upon. Complete restoration and preservation of hearing in these cases is extremely rare. We report a case presenting with a second episode of sudden hearing loss with tinnitus and no signs of spontaneous recovery. An acute MRI revealed an intracanalicular schwannoma on the left side with a part protruding into the cerebello-pontine angle. Hearing was completely restored following the administration of corticosteroid therapy. Radical microsurgical removal of the vestibular schwannoma with the preservation of normal hearing was performed one month after a second attack, with no complications. Hearing status remains stable and there is no evidence of the tumour on MRI scan three years after the surgery. This observation supports the fact that recurrent episodes of sudden hearing loss in vestibular schwannoma do not exclude the possibility of complete hearing restoration.