Comprehensive Analysis of the Contributing Factors to the Hearing Abilities of Patients With Vestibular Schwannoma
10.3342/kjorl-hns.2023.00990
- Author:
Jung Ho CHOI
1
;
Yong-Hwi AN
;
Ra Gyoung YOON
;
Hyun Joon SHIM
Author Information
1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Nowon Eulji Medical Center, Eulji University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Korean Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
2024;67(10):525-531
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Background and Objectives:This study aimed to comprehensively assess the factors influencing hearing ability in patients with vestibular schwannoma, focusing on tumor size, location, primary complaint, and contralateral hearing threshold.Subjects and Method This was a retrospective analysis of 50 patients diagnosed with vestibular schwannoma by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at Nowon Eulji Medical Center. Tumor size and location were evaluated using a 3-T MRI system, and pure-tone threshold and speech discrimination were retrieved. To investigate the relationship between tumor size and hearing, we conducted a multiple regression analysis with several variables, including tumor size, tumor location, patient age, and gender.
Results:When patients were categorized into groups according to their primary complaint at initial presentation, no significant differences were observed in pure tone thresholds but different speech discrimination were detected among the groups. When patients were classified according to the tumor location, the extrameatal group exhibited lower pure-tone thresholds and higher speech discrimination scores than the intrameatal group. Multiple regression analysis indicated that differences in pure tone thresholds and speech discrimination scores between affected and unaffected sides were more pronounced in cases with smaller tumor sizes and extrameatal tumor locations, emphasizing the greater impact of location over size.
Conclusion:Using both tumor size and location, it is possible to predict the differences in pure-tone thresholds and speech discrimination between the affected and unaffected sides. Extrameatal invasion of the tumor appears to be the most important factor among them.
