Coexisting schwannoma and meningioma simulating a single cerebellopontine angle lesion: Case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Cerebellopontine angle (CPA) tumors are relatively common (around 6-10%) intracranial tumors. The most common types of CPA tumors are schwannomas and meningiomas, representing together up to 90% of all CPA tumors. Concurrent occurrence of these two tumor types together at the CPA remains a rare event, with only low numbers of such cases reported in the literature. In this case report, we describe a case of a 73 years old female patient with a nine year history of left ear pain and tinnitus with no evident history of Neurofibromatosis. T1-weighted contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging showed a left cerebellopontine angle enhancing mass lesion with two different enhancement signals. The tumor was approached through a retrosigmoid craniotomy approach. Postoperative pathological examination confirmed the presence of both a meningioma and a schwannoma. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful. While concurrent CPA tumors remain a rare entity, clinicians need to keep such a possibility in mind especially when there appears to be different intensities on MR.