Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis and sensorineural hearing loss: Correlation of labyrinthine enhancement patterns with symptoms

SummaryObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between hearing loss and inner ear enhancement in patients suffering from leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LC) involving the internal acoustic canal (IAC). Previous studies have only reported an association between IAC enhancement and sensorineural deafness.Material and methodsIn a prospective study conducted from 2005 to 2007, 14 patients with LC involving the IAC underwent high-resolution MRI and otolaryngology examination. MRI images were analyzed by two experienced radiologists who were blinded to audiologic investigation results.ResultsThree (21%) patients had IAC and inner ear enhancement on gadolinium-weighted MRI. All three had a sensorineural hearing loss. Eleven (79%) patients had IAC enhancement without inner ear enhancement. Nine of these 11 patients were free of sensorineural hearing loss. Only two of them had sensorineural deafness.ConclusionThese findings are suggestive of a relation between hearing loss and inner ear enhancement in leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, as previously reported for bacterial meningitis. However, further investigations, including radiopathological correlation and a larger number of patients, are warranted to confirm these preliminary results.