A sudden bilateral hearing loss caused by inner ear hemorrhage

• Published in: European annals of otorhinolaryngology, head and neck diseases Vol. 137; no. 1; pp. 65 - 67
• Main Authors: Meunier, A., Clavel, P., Aubry, K., Lerat, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: France Elsevier Masson SAS 01.01.2020
• Subjects: Aged, 80 and over; Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia; Dizziness; Ear Diseases - complications; Ear, Inner; Hearing Loss, Bilateral - etiology; Hearing Loss, Sudden - etiology; Hemorrhage; Hemorrhage - complications; Humans; Inner ear; Male; Sudden hearing loss; Dizziness; Hemorrhage; Sudden hearing loss; Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia; Inner ear
• ISSN: 1879-7296; 1879-730X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anorl.2019.05.021

Labyrinthine hemorrhage is a rare cause of sudden deafness and generally concerns only on one side. An 84-year-old man with a past medical history of myelomonocytic chronic leukemia (CMML) suffered from sudden bilateral hearing loss associated with vertigo. The audiogram revealed a left cophosis and a right profound deafness. Videonystagmography showed a left vestibular deficit. The MRI showed a spontaneous strong T1 weighted signal in the left and right labyrinths, corresponding to a bilateral inner ear hemorrhage (IEH). Dizziness resolved rapidly following vestibular physiotherapy, in contrast to hearing which did not improve at all and let the patient isolated in his environment. The patient successfully underwent cochlear implantation so that he could communicate. Most IEHs are unilateral and due to anticoagulants treatments and hematological diseases. Only rare cases have described bilateral labyrinth hemorrhage. This is the first case reported of bilateral labyrinth hemorrhage due to CMML.