Meningiomas involving the internal auditory canal: A diagnostic and surgical challenge

Meningiomas are the second most common lesion encountered within the cerebe llo-pontine angle (CPA) and rarely project into or originate from the inter nal auditory meatus (IAM). It is important to distinguish between meningiom as land acoustic neuromas preoperatively as the choice of surgical approach may differ depending on the tumour type. Fortunately, most lesions can be accurately diagnosed with gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonace imaging (MR I). We report six cases of meningioma involving the IAM, often leading to a n incorrect preoperative MRI diagnosis. We highlight the challenges these t umors present to radiologists and surgeons.