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What Causes Tinnitus Along With Profound Deafness In Right Ear?
Question: Suddenly in the middle of the day I felt like I got wacked in the side of the head. The next day I had extreme veritgo. 3 days later I have permanent profound deafness in my right ear. I was on Steroids and over the course of a month I feel better but am still deaf with tinnitus and sharp pains randomly, but my balance has improved.
I had an MRI but have not heard from the doctor yet. In looking at the image, I see a clear difference from left side to right side. Could this just be an infection result or does this look similar to an acoustic tumor or something else?
I had an MRI but have not heard from the doctor yet. In looking at the image, I see a clear difference from left side to right side. Could this just be an infection result or does this look similar to an acoustic tumor or something else?
Brief Answer:
Infection more probable
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Those symptoms you are mentioning warrant an evaluation and it is a good thing you have had an MRI which should exclude the most serious causes.
The causes might be several but judging from the fact the beginning was acute an infectious cause is more probable.
An acustic tumor is less probable because they have a very slow development, not an immediate start unless they are complicated by an hemorrhage.
It would be useful if you could upload the mri images although I realize they are many.
Also if you could be more precise on the evolution in time of your symptoms (it is unclear since when you have the symptoms)
and results of other tests like blood tests.
I remain at your disposal for further questions hopefully with you providing more info.
Infection more probable
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Those symptoms you are mentioning warrant an evaluation and it is a good thing you have had an MRI which should exclude the most serious causes.
The causes might be several but judging from the fact the beginning was acute an infectious cause is more probable.
An acustic tumor is less probable because they have a very slow development, not an immediate start unless they are complicated by an hemorrhage.
It would be useful if you could upload the mri images although I realize they are many.
Also if you could be more precise on the evolution in time of your symptoms (it is unclear since when you have the symptoms)
and results of other tests like blood tests.
I remain at your disposal for further questions hopefully with you providing more info.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi Dr. Taka.
I do not have the blood results yet as I am to get a white blood cell/Lyme test tomorrow.
Timeline:
January 15th - First Symptom (hearing loss). Went to doctor and got Antibiotics. Was not sick and did not have fluid in ear.
January 16th - Fell to ground with vertigo - sick in bed for 3 days.
January 19th - Went to ENT - Prescribed anti vertigo and steroids. Did hearing test and diagnosed me with Profound Hearing loss - Possibly Permanent.
February 2nd - Follow up. Felt better, still dizzy. Testing hearing again and determined hearing loss was permanent - completely deaf in right ear.
February 10th - Follow up. Still balance issues, constant ringing. Headaches, Pressure. Completely deaf in right ear. Ordered MRI.
February 16th - MRI and doctor ordered White Blood Cell/Lymes Blood Test
Attached are some of the MRI scans with contrast. Note the difference in right side to left.
I do not have the blood results yet as I am to get a white blood cell/Lyme test tomorrow.
Timeline:
January 15th - First Symptom (hearing loss). Went to doctor and got Antibiotics. Was not sick and did not have fluid in ear.
January 16th - Fell to ground with vertigo - sick in bed for 3 days.
January 19th - Went to ENT - Prescribed anti vertigo and steroids. Did hearing test and diagnosed me with Profound Hearing loss - Possibly Permanent.
February 2nd - Follow up. Felt better, still dizzy. Testing hearing again and determined hearing loss was permanent - completely deaf in right ear.
February 10th - Follow up. Still balance issues, constant ringing. Headaches, Pressure. Completely deaf in right ear. Ordered MRI.
February 16th - MRI and doctor ordered White Blood Cell/Lymes Blood Test
Attached are some of the MRI scans with contrast. Note the difference in right side to left.
Brief Answer:
Acoustic tumor is possible.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for providing some more info on your symptoms and tests.
I viewed the MRI images that you sent. You are right there is a mass in the region called cerebello-pontine angle. In 90% of the cases it is a case of an vestibular nerve schwanoma, a benign nerve tumor which you mentioned before.
However the difference with rarer causes (lipoma, sarcoidosis, meningeoma, aneurysm) is done by having different sequences in the MRI, different tissues have different looks on MRI which the radiologist uses to separate the causes (for example a lipoma can have same look no contrast sequences, but on fat supression sequences it disappears). From the images you have sent I would put the vestibular (acoustic) schwanoma as the most probable diagnosis.
I must say that those types of masses do not have such an quick evolution of symptoms, I believe that the hearing loss has been going on for a while but it has been compensated by the other ear to be discovered only now that balance has been affected.
I hope to have been of help.
Acoustic tumor is possible.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for providing some more info on your symptoms and tests.
I viewed the MRI images that you sent. You are right there is a mass in the region called cerebello-pontine angle. In 90% of the cases it is a case of an vestibular nerve schwanoma, a benign nerve tumor which you mentioned before.
However the difference with rarer causes (lipoma, sarcoidosis, meningeoma, aneurysm) is done by having different sequences in the MRI, different tissues have different looks on MRI which the radiologist uses to separate the causes (for example a lipoma can have same look no contrast sequences, but on fat supression sequences it disappears). From the images you have sent I would put the vestibular (acoustic) schwanoma as the most probable diagnosis.
I must say that those types of masses do not have such an quick evolution of symptoms, I believe that the hearing loss has been going on for a while but it has been compensated by the other ear to be discovered only now that balance has been affected.
I hope to have been of help.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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