Efficacy of steroid treatment for sudden sensorineural hearing loss in patients with vestibular schwannoma

Abstract

Background

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) has several aetiologies and may be a presenting symptom of vestibular schwannoma (VS).

Objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate the recovery rate after steroid treatment and the prognostic factors of SSNHL with VS.

Materials and Methods

This was a retrospective observational study wherein 32 patients with VS who presented with SSNHL were analysed at a tertiary referral centre. Hearing gain and prognostic factors were the main outcome measures for steroid treatment intervention.

Results

Among the 1698 patients presenting with SSNHL, VS was found in 43 (2.5%) patients. Eleven cases (34.3%) showed good recovery, with significant improvements in the pure-tone audiometry values. Even though age was a significant factor, there were no associations between steroid response and initial hearing level, presence of vertigo, tumour size, and tumour extension.

Conclusions and Significance

Our study showed that hearing recovery of SSNHL does not exclude a VS diagnosis. We suggest that steroid treatment be considered in patients with VS presenting SSNHL.

Chinese Abstract

背景：突发性感觉神经性听力损失 (SSNHL) 有多种病因。它可能是前庭神经鞘瘤 (VS) 的一种表现症状。

目的：调查类固醇治疗SSNHL 与 VS后的恢复率以及两者的预后因素。

材料和方法：这是一项回顾性观察研究。 在三级转诊中心对32 名 表现有SSNHL 的VS

患者进行了分析。听力增益和预后因素是激素治疗干预结果的主要指标。

结果：在 1698 例 表现有SSNHL 患者中, 发现43 例 (2.5%) 患者患有 VS。其中11例（34.3%）恢复良好, 纯音测听值有显著改善。尽管年龄是一个重要因素, 但类固醇反应与初始听力水平、眩晕的存在、肿瘤大小和肿瘤扩大之间并没有关联。

结论和意义：我们的研究表明, SSNHL 的听力恢复并不排除VS 诊断。我们建议对表现 有SSNHL 的 VS 患者考虑类固醇治疗。

Keywords:

• Hearing gain
• steroid therapy
• sudden sensorineural hearing loss
• vestibular schwannoma

Disclosure statement

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Soonchunhyang University Research Fund.