Endolymphatic Hydropsin a Patient with a Small Vestibular Schwannoma Suggests a Peripheral Origin of Vertigo

Objective: To present audio vestibular and MR imaging findings in a case of vestibular schwannoma with endolymphtic hydrops. Design: Case report with 9-years follow-up. Study Sample: A 43 year-old male patient with a small stable intrameatal vestibular schwannoma who developed recurrent vertigo attacks. Results: Inner ear MRI revealed vestibular endolymphatic hydrops. oVEMP responses showed an altered frequency tuning suggestive of endolymphatic hydrops. Audiometry revealed mild high frequency hearing loss and corresponding high-frequency loss of otoacoustic emissions, suggesting a cochlear lesion. Conclusion: This case study supports a labyrinthine origin of audio vestibular function deficits and symptoms. Detection of endolymphatic hydrops in such patients may be clinically relevant for the management of vertigo symptoms possibly due to endolymphatic hydrops.