Conservative management of endolymphatic sac tumors in von Hippel-Lindau disease: case report

Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2011 Jan;153(1):42-7; discussion 47. doi: 10.1007/s00701-010-0873-5. Epub 2010 Nov 20.

Abstract

In endolymphatic sac tumors associated with von Hippel-Lindau disease, early detection and surgery have been warranted to avoid associated neurological morbidity. However, in lately discovered tumors, hearing preserving surgery is often impossible and timing of surgical resection is difficult to define. We report two cases of tumors revealed by a sudden and profound hearing loss and managed conservatively for more than 15 years without worsening of the neurological symptoms associated with the endolymphatic sac tumor. Tumor size remained stable for the first patient and a stuttering growth pattern was observed for the second patient. Initial observation may be considered a not unreasonable management paradigm in these cases.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Disease Progression
  • Endolymphatic Sac / pathology
  • Endolymphatic Sac / surgery*
  • Female
  • Hearing Loss / diagnosis
  • Hearing Loss / etiology
  • Hearing Loss / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Labyrinth Diseases / diagnosis
  • Labyrinth Diseases / etiology
  • Labyrinth Diseases / surgery*
  • Male
  • Petrous Bone / pathology*
  • Petrous Bone / surgery
  • Skull Base Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Skull Base Neoplasms / etiology
  • Skull Base Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Young Adult
  • von Hippel-Lindau Disease / complications
  • von Hippel-Lindau Disease / surgery*