title: VIIIth nerve cavernous hemangioma mimicking a stage 1 acoustic schwannoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report a case of VIIIth nerve cavernous hemangioma, a very rare differential diagnosis among the various pathologies presenting as small enhancing entities into the internal auditory canal. It is one of the most challenging when imaging is not able to differentiate it from an intrameatal vestibular schwannoma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We report a cavernous hemangioma extruding from the internal auditory canal, diagnosed after a left translabyrinthine resection in a 45-year-old man complaining of profound sensorineural hearing loss, with no facial paresis or dizziness. The preoperative differential diagnosis of a vestibular schwannoma was impossible, due to the absence of calcifications that usually characterize temporal bone hemangiomas. Clinical presentation, radiological features and treatment considerations are discussed along with up-to-date review of pertinent literature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When considering an apparent small intra-auditory canal schwannoma, otoneurologists should be aware of the rare possibility of a cavernous hemangioma. Early diagnosis and surgical treatment may improve the functional outcome, possibly preserving neural integrity.
authors.affiliation: Department of ENT, Hautepierre University Hospital, Strasbourg, France; ENT department, Legouest, Instructional Military Hospital, 27, avenue de Plantières, BP 90001, 57077 Metz cedex 3, France. Electronic address: gratienbonfort@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bonfort
authors.affiliation: Department of medical imaging, Hautepierre University Hospital, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Veillon
authors.affiliation: Department of ENT, Hautepierre University Hospital, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Debry
authors.affiliation: Department of neurosurgery, Hautepierre University Hospital, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kehrli
authors.affiliation: Department of neurosurgery, Hautepierre University Hospital, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chibbaro
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006392:Hemangioma, Cavernous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009464:Neuroma, Acoustic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods
keywords: Acoustic schwannoma; Canal auditif interne; Cavernous hemangioma; Facial nerve; Hémangiome caverneux; Hémangiome de l’os temporal; Internal auditory canal; Nerf facial; Schwannome de l’acoustique; Temporal bone hemangioma