Objective: To date, only a very limited number of lipomas of the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) have been reported. Our objective was to examine clinical and radiologic features of CPA lipomas and determine the most appropriate management plan.
Study design: Retrospective case series.
Setting: Tertiary referral center.
Patients: Patients with CPA lipomas were identified through the skull base multidisciplinary meeting database.
Interventions: Radiologic surveillance and clinical assessment.
Main outcome measures: Tumor growth, assessed through radiologic measurements on serial magnetic resonance imaging, demographics, presenting symptoms, and any correlation between weight gain and lipoma growth were among the examined factors.
Results: Of the 15 patients with CPA lipomas, six were female and nine were male, with an average age at presentation of 50.2 years (range, 31.7-76.4 yr) and an average follow-up time of 51.7 months (range, 6-216 mo). The lipomas were unilateral in all cases, nine on the right (60%) and six on the left (40%) side. None of the lipomas increased in size. All patients were treated conservatively. Sensorineural hearing loss was the main presenting symptom (80%) followed by tinnitus (46.7%) and vertigo (20%). None of the patients suffered from facial nerve dysfunction. There was no correlation between weight gain and tumor growth.
Conclusion: CPA lipomas can be diagnosed accurately with appropriate magnetic resonance imaging techniques and be managed conservatively with safety. Cochleovestibular are the most common presenting symptoms, whereas facial nerve involvement is rare. CPA lipomas do not tend to grow and can be monitored on a less regular basis.