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Extension patterns of vestibular schwannomas towards the middle ear: three new cases and review of the literature

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Abstract

Objective

Middle ear extension of vestibular schwannomas is not a common occurrence, and only a few cases have been described so far in past publications. We report three new cases of vestibular schwannomas extending to the middle ear and reviewed the literature to specify the patterns of such an extension.

Materials and methods

We analysed databases of previously published articles to search for additional cases of middle ear extension of vestibular schwannomas and compared them to the cases we have documented. Extension patterns of the tumours were analysed, especially focusing on the extension through the round and oval windows.

Results and conclusion

Middle ear vestibular schwannomas are uncommon tumours and only 13 cases have been published so far. The vestibular schwannoma (internal auditory canal or intralabyrinthine) has to invade the labyrinth first (complete invasion in 88% of the cases, n = 14), before reaching the middle ear. In the majority of cases (69%, n = 11/16), internal auditory canal vestibular schwannomas or intralabyrinthine schwannomas extended in the middle ear though the round window.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Mr. Siju Koshy for his precious help during the manuscript revision.

Funding

No funding was received for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Service de Radiologie 1, Hôpital de Hautepierre, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, 1 avenue Molière, 67098, Strasbourg CEDEX, France

    Aina Venkatasamy, Caroline Nicolas-Ong & Francis Veillon

  2. Service de chirurgie ORL, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, 1 avenue Molière, Strasbourg, 67098, France

    Hella Vuong & Anne Charpiot

  3. Université de Strasbourg, Inserm IRFAC UMR_S1113, Laboratory Stress Response and Innovative Therapies “Streinth”, Strasbourg, France

    Aina Venkatasamy

Authors
  1. Aina Venkatasamy
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  2. Caroline Nicolas-Ong
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  3. Hella Vuong
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  4. Anne Charpiot
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  5. Francis Veillon
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Correspondence to Aina Venkatasamy.

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This is a review article of cases from the literature.

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Venkatasamy, A., Nicolas-Ong, C., Vuong, H. et al. Extension patterns of vestibular schwannomas towards the middle ear: three new cases and review of the literature. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 276, 969–976 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-019-05332-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-019-05332-9

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