CLINICAL CASES   

Otorinolaringologia 2005 December;55(4):257-61

Copyright © 2009 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Large vestibular aqueduct syndrome treated by hyperbaric oxygen: case report

Martines F. ¹, Di Franco G. ², Maggio O. ², Saraniti C. ¹, Martines E. ²

¹ Unità di Otorinolaringoiatria Dipartimento di Neurologia Oftalmologia, Otorinolaringoiatria e Psichiatria Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo 2 Unità di Audiologia Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Legale Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo

The large vestibular aqueduct syndrome (LVAS) is characterized by a progressive loss of sensorineural hearing associated with an isolated anatomic malformation of the inner ear that is radiologically detectable and greater than 1.5 mm in anteroposterior diameter, measured in the mean point between the common crus and its external opening in the posterior cranial fossa. Medical therapy with steroids is usually administered in cases of occurrence and/or sudden onset of hearing loss. A clinical case showing a sudden severe hearing loss due to LVAS without an increase of hearing ability after treatment with steroids is reported. The diagnosis of bilateral LVAS was made by imaging (CT) and a hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) was carried out; during therapy, the hearing level improved gradually to the previous level with an increase of 18 dB. The authors recommend HBO therapy for the tretment of sensorineural hearing loss associated with LVAS, if conventional treatments are unsuccessful.