title: [Consequences of misdiagnosis: unrecognized acoustic neuroma (vestibular schwannoma) in MRI].
abstract: This report concerns a 43-year-old male plumber with relapsing acute hearing loss on the right side and vertiginous attacks. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed twice after otolaryngology and neurological examinations over an interval of 2 months and according to the reports no evidence of an acoustic neuroma was found. Approximately 2 years later a right-sided hourglass-shaped acoustic neuroma 4 mm in diameter was diagnosed with MRI located in the vestibule and the fundus of the internal auditory canal. In retrospect it had also been visible on the earlier MRI. The tumor was resected via the labyrinth and the diagnosis of a vestibular schwannoma was confirmed histologically. The patient brought a lawsuit against the radiologist who carried out both previous MRI examinations with the wrong interpretation. The lawsuit terminated in a settlement between the parties after presentation of the neuroradiological expert opinion.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Neuroradiologie, Institut und Poliklinik für Radiologische Diagnostik, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Dresden, Deutschland.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: von Kummer
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Becker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005858:Germany; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009464:Neuroma, Acoustic / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*