CASE STUDY
Rapid onset sensorineural hearing loss secondary to bilateral cerebral melanoma metastases to the cerebellopontine angle
 
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1
ENT Department, Wexham Park Hospital, U.K.
 
2
ENT Department, John Radcliffe Hospital, and Research Fellow, Nuffield Department of Surgery (University of Oxford), Oxford, U.K.
 
3
Neuroradiology Department, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, U.K.
 
4
ENT Department, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, U.K.
 
 
Publication date: 2014-03-31
 
 
Corresponding author
Rhona Sproat   

Rhona Sproat, ENT Department, Wexham Park Hospital, Wexham, Slough, Berkshire, SL2 4HL, U.K., Phone number: +44 01753 633 000; .e-mail: rhonasproat@gmail.com
 
 
J Hear Sci 2014;4(1):41-46
 
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Background:
We describe a case of bilateral cerebellopontine angle melanoma metastases in the context of a literature review. The case is a rare presentation of sensorineural hearing loss and an unusual site of metastasis for malignant melanoma.

Material and Methods:
A 54-year-old man presented with sudden deafness. Bilateral melanoma metastases were confirmed with MRI and lumbar puncture. He died 3 months after treatment.

Conclusions:
Melanoma metastasis should be considered as a differential for sensorineural hearing loss. A review of the literature found that the median survival of patients with bilateral cerebellopontine angle metastatic melanoma is 6 months posttreatment. At surgery these tumours are largely unresectable from cranial nerves VII and VIII. Surgical intervention is unlikely to result in survival or symptomatic benefit and the focus of treatment should be on maintaining quality of life. Hearing rehabilitation and gamma knife surgery may have a role.

 
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