HYPOTHESIS: Vestibular schwannoma (VS) may be associated with endolymphatic hydrops (EH). EH may account for symptomatology in a subset of patients with VS. BACKGROUND: Presenting symptoms of VS and EH overlap, and MRI evaluation of the membranous labyrinth in some patients with VS demonstrates EH. The aim of the current study is to evaluate whether EH is present in temporal bones of patients with VS. METHODS: The NIDCD and House Temporal Bone Laboratory at UCLA Eccles database was queried for the diagnosis of acoustic neuroma. Exclusion criteria included concomitant ear disease and surgery. Temporal bones were analyzed for EH of the basal, middle, and apical turns and vestibule. Premortem audiometric and clinical data were gathered. RESULTS: Of 43 human temporal bones with VS, 6 met inclusion criteria. All temporal bones demonstrated VS that was undisturbed by surgery. Three of six demonstrated EH of at least one cochlear turn as well as vestibular hydrops. Three patients had severe to profound hearing loss. One patient carried a diagnosis of Menières disease. CONCLUSIONS: EH is demonstrated in the setting of VS in human temporal bones. EH may be one mechanism of hearing loss and dizziness in patients with VS. PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE GAP AND EDUCATIONAL NEED: The underlying mechanisms of symptoms of VS may be multifactorial. The association of EH in some patients with VS would modify our clinical approach to management. LEARNING OBJECTIVE: To discover if EH may be associated with VS. DESIRED RESULT: To broaden understanding of pathophysiologic mechanisms in patients with VS. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IVIRB Approved: UCLA IRB No. 10-001449.

Conclusions This technique is offered as a convenient and reliable method for cases with anterior TM perforation and inadequate anterior remnant. Objectives Chronic otitis media surgery is one of the most common procedures in otology. Anterior tympanic membrane (TM) perforation with inadequate anterior remnant is associated with higher rates of graft failure. It was the goal of this series to evaluate the anatomical and functional outcomes of a modified underlay myringoplasty technique-the anterior pull-through method. Materials and methods In a retrospective clinical study, 13 patients with anterior TM perforations with inadequate anterior remnants underwent tympanoplasty with anterior pull-through technique. The anterior tip of the temporalis fascia was pulled through and secured in a short incision lateral to the anterior part of the annulus. Data on graft take rate, pre-operative, and post-operative hearing status were analyzed. Results A graft success rate of 84.6% (11 out of 13) was achieved, without lateralization, blunting, atelectasia, or epithelial pearls. The air-bone gap was 21.5 ± 6.8 dB before intervention and 11.75 ± 5.7 dB after surgery (p = 0.003).

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate patterns of cochlear ossification (CO) in cadaveric temporal bones of patients who underwent vestibular schwannoma (VS) surgery via the translabyrinthine (TL), middle cranial fossa (MF), or retrosigmoid (RS) approaches. STUDY DESIGN: Histopathologic analysis of cadaveric temporal bones. SETTING: Multi-institutional national temporal bone repository. METHODS: The National Institute of Deafness and Communication Disorders and House Temporal Bone Laboratory at the University of California, Los Angeles and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Otopathology Laboratory were searched for cadaveric temporal bones with a history of VS for which microsurgery was performed. Exclusion criteria included non-VS and perioperative death within 30 days of surgery. Temporal bones were analyzed histologically for CO of the basal, middle, and apical turns. RESULTS: Of 92 temporal bones with a history of schwannoma from both databases, 12 of these cases met the inclusion criteria. The approaches for tumor excision included 2 MF, 4 RS, and 6 TL approaches. CO was observed in all temporal bones that had undergone TL surgery. Among temporal bones that had undergone MF or RS surgeries, 5/6 had no CO, and 1/6 had partial ossification. This single case was noted to have intraoperative vestibular violation after RS surgery upon histopathologic and chart review. CONCLUSION: In this temporal bone series, all temporal bones that had undergone TL demonstrated varying degrees of CO on histological analysis. MF and RS cases did not exhibit CO except in the case of vestibular violation. When cochlear implantation is planned or possible after VS surgery, surgeons may consider using a surgical approach that does not violate the labyrinth.