Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis and sensorineural hearing loss: correlation of labyrinthine enhancement patterns with symptoms.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between hearing loss and inner ear enhancement in patients suffering from leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LC) involving the internal acoustic canal (IAC). Previous studies have only reported an association between IAC enhancement and sensorineural deafness.


METHODS
In a prospective study conducted from 2005 to 2007, 14 patients with LC involving the IAC underwent high-resolution MRI and otolaryngology examination. MRI images were analyzed by two experienced radiologists who were blinded to audiologic investigation results.


RESULTS
Three (21%) patients had IAC and inner ear enhancement on gadolinium-weighted MRI. All three had a sensorineural hearing loss. Eleven (79%) patients had IAC enhancement without inner ear enhancement. Nine of these 11 patients were free of sensorineural hearing loss. Only two of them had sensorineural deafness.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings are suggestive of a relation between hearing loss and inner ear enhancement in leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, as previously reported for bacterial meningitis. However, further investigations, including radiopathological correlation and a larger number of patients, are warranted to confirm these preliminary results.
Goyault
G
G
Department of Radiology, hôpital de Hautepierre, 1, avenue Molière, 67098 Strasbourg, France. gilles.goyault@chru-strasbourg.fr
Kremer
S
S
Martin
E
E
Riehm
S
S
Dietemann
J-L
JL
Veillon
F
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001299:Audiometry / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D055756:Meningeal Carcinomatosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult