Bilateral Acoustic Neuroma: A Human Temporal Bone Report

Abstract

BILATERAL acoustic neuroma is always considered to be a manifestation of von Recklinghausen's disease. The purpose of this communication is to present the findings in a case of deafness due to bilateral acoustic neuroma in which postmortem examination failed to reveal nodular fibromata in the main nerve trunks throughout the body. Gardner and Turner,¹ however, feel that bilateral acoustic tumors may be transmitted as an "incomplete" form of Recklinghausen's disease. Report of a Case This 31-year-old patient, first seen on May 24, 1963, complained that she had experienced progressive loss of hearing in her left ear for the past three years and that she had become "stone deaf" on that side. Also, she noted progressive right-sided hearing loss for the past 2½ years. She had had bilateral tinnitus and persistent headaches for six months, associated sometimes with nausea and vomiting. There was no history of vertiginous episodes but she