Original Paper

Decision Making for Solitary Vestibular Schwannoma and Contralateral Meniere's Disease
Francesco Dispenza^a, Alessandro De Stefano^b, Sean Flanagan^d, Guglielmo Romano^c, Mario Sanna<sup>c

a</sup>Dipartimento di Scienze Otorinolaringoiatriche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo,
^bClinica Otorinolaringoiatrica, Università degli Studi G. d'Annunzio Chieti-Pescara, Chieti,
^cGruppo Otologico Piacenza-Roma, Piacenza, Italia;
^dENT Department, Saint Vincent Hospital, Sydney, Australia

Address of Corresponding Author

Audiol Neurotol 2008;13:53-57 (DOI: 10.1159/000108109)

  Key Words

• Meniere's disease
• Intratympanic gentamicin
• Vestibular schwannoma

  Abstract

The existence of dual inner ear pathology such as unilateral Meniere's disease (MD) with a contralateral vestibular schwannoma (VS) is very rare, but provides the otologist with a significant management dilemma. In this study, we present 5 cases of unilateral disabling MD with a contralateral VS in the better hearing ear. Conservative management of the VS is mandated unless there are impending complications, with management directed toward controlling the vertigo attributed to MD. If and when the VS requires intervention, or the hearing in that ear deteriorates to unserviceable levels, cochlear implant of the ear affected by MD prior to addressing the VS provides optimal management.

Copyright © 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Francesco Dispenza, MD
Via Paolo Emiliani Giudici, 37
IT-90127 Palermo (Italia)
Tel. +39 333 456 5471, Fax +39 091 616 6366
E-Mail francesco-dispenza@libero.it

  Article Information

Received: February 9, 2007
Accepted after revision: June 1, 2007
Published online: September 11, 2007
Number of Print Pages : 5
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 2, Number of References : 34