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Bilateral, isolated, lateral semicircular canal malformation without hearing loss

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 May 2008

I Dallan ,
S Berrettini ,
E Neri  and
A P Casani
I Dallan*
Affiliation:
Second ENT Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Pisana, Italy
S Berrettini
Affiliation:
First ENT Section, Neuroscience Department, University of Pisa, Italy
E Neri
Affiliation:
Division of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Department of Oncology, University of Pisa, Italy
A P Casani
Affiliation:
First ENT Section, Neuroscience Department, University of Pisa, Italy
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Iacopo Dallan, 2nd ENT Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Pisana, Via Savi 10, 56126 Pisa, Italy. Fax: +39 050 993239 E-mail: iacopodallan@tiscali.it
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Abstract

Hypothesis:

Inner-ear malformations are frequently found in patients with sensorineural hearing loss. However, isolated anomalies of the vestibular part of the inner ear are seldom described, and for this reason their impact on balance is poorly understood.

Care report:

We present the case of a 38-year-old Caucasian man with recurrent vestibular complaints, with a sensation of linear tilting, but no hearing impairment. Clinical and neuro-otological examinations showed peripheral involvement of the vestibular system, while audiological investigation was within normal limits. High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging of the inner ear, with three-dimensional reconstruction, demonstrated isolated vestibular anomalies involving both the lateral semicircular canal and the utricle.

Conclusions:

Bearing in mind this case, we speculate that isolated vestibular malformation may not be as rare as previously thought, and should be investigated with the aid of sophisticated imaging techniques. A review of the relative literature, focussing attention on the molecular aspects, is also reported.

Keywords

Semicircular CanalsInner EarSensorineural Hearing Loss
Type
Clinical Record
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 122 , Issue 8 , August 2008 , pp. 858 - 860
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2008

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