Combined surgical approach to intralabyrinthine schwannoma.

INTRODUCTION: Intralabyrinthine schwannoma (ILS) is a tumor originating from the Schwann cells in the inner ear. Various surgical approaches can be used for the resection of ILS. The aim of this report is to describe a case involving a 60-year-old man who was treated successfully with a combined surgical approach.

CASE REPORT: The patient underwent a combined microscopic (transmastoid labyrinthectomy) and endoscopic procedure for surgical excision of ILS involving the vestibule and the lower half of the cochlear basal turn. The combined surgical technique enabled a complete removal of the ILS without removal of the unaffected cochlea as well as the external auditory canal. Besides additional exclusion of the middle ear, blind-sac closure of the external auditory canal and cavity obliteration were avoided. No postoperative complications were observed.

DISCUSSION: A combined microscopic and endoscopic approach to surgery enables removal of the ILS involving the vestibule and the lower half of the cochlear basal turn while helping to reduce surgical radicality.