GANGLIONIC HAMARTOMA OF THE INTRACANALICULAR ACOUSTIC NERVE CAUSING SENSORINEURAL HEARING-LOSS

Objective: This article highlights the clinical presentation and treat ment issues of ganglionic hamartoma of the internal auditory canal and emphasizes the similarity of this lesion to acoustic neuroma regardin g its audiologic and radiographic characteristics. Study Design: This article is composed of case reports and a literature review. Setting: The study was performed at a university hospital/tertiary referral cen ter. Patient: A patient with biopsy-proven ganglionic hamartoma of the acoustic nerve was studied. Intervention: Intervention consisted of s urgical therapy. Main Outcome Measure: The main outcome measure was cl inical evaluation. Results: The result was successful removal of lesio ns with facial nerve preservation. Conclusions: An intracanalicular ga nglionic hamartoma resulted in progressive sensorineural hearing loss and magnetic resonance imaging findings suggestive of small acoustic n euroma. This lesion, composed of an admixture of ganglion cells, fibro adipose tissue, and normal myelinated axons, although rare, should be added to the differential diagnosis of internal auditory canal lesions .