Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma of the Cerebellopontine Angle in a Patient with Sudden Hearing Loss and Facial Palsy

Primary lymphoma of the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) is rare in the central nervous system. To our knowledge, there have only been 14 cases reported worldwide so far. Here, we report our findings in a 57-year-old man, who presented with bilateral sudden hearing loss followed by left facial palsy within 1 month. Radiologic study and magnetic resonance imaging showed a homogeneous enhancing mass, 1.6 × 0.5 × 1.1 cm in size, in the left CPA cistern region with mild extension to the left internal auditory canal. The tumor was removed through left retromastoid craniectomy, and the histopathologic diagnosis of the tumor was confirmed as diffuse large B-cell type malignant lymphoma. After a series of tumor surveys, there was no evidence of other original lymphoma. The patient was treated with chemotherapy (including intra-Ommaya injection with methotrexate and Ara-C and systemic injection with vincristine, methotrexate and ifosfamide) for the primary CPA lymphoma. He was still alive 19 months after the initial treatment.

Key Words:  central nervous system neoplasms , cerebellopontine angle , diffuse large-cell lymphoma , facial paralysis , sudden hearing loss

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