A Case of Physiologic Enhancement of Scarpa's Ganglia Mimicking Bilateral Vestibular Schwannomas in a Patient With Atypical Meningioma With NF2 Mutation

We followed a 36-year-old man with an atypical meningioma with somatic NF2 mutation and invasion into the bone, temporalis muscle, and pterygopalatine fossa, treated with surgical resection and adjuvant radiation therapy. His medical history included medulloblastoma treated with resection and adjuvant radiation therapy and a WHO Grade 1 meningioma treated with gross total resection....

Audiologists and ENT clinicians should be aware that Scarpa's ganglia enhancement on MRI can mimic bilateral vestibular schwannomas, particularly in patients with NF2 mutations, to avoid misdiagnosis.

This case highlights a rare but important imaging pitfall that could lead to incorrect diagnosis of bilateral vestibular schwannomas, with significant consequences for patient management.

1. 01Physiologic MRI enhancement of Scarpa's ganglia can falsely resemble bilateral vestibular schwannomas.
2. 02Patient had an atypical meningioma with an NF2 gene mutation, complicating diagnosis.
3. 03NF2 mutations are associated with a predisposition to vestibular schwannomas, raising diagnostic stakes.
4. 04Case underscores the need for careful radiologic interpretation in NF2-associated conditions.
5. 05Clinicians should consider this mimicry before initiating aggressive treatment.

PMID

42088105

DOI

10.1155/crra/1815413.

Journal

Case Reports in Radiology

Publication type

case_report

Evidence level

4

Sample size

1

Population

Single patient with atypical meningioma and NF2 mutation

Intervention

MRI imaging interpretation of Scarpa's ganglia enhancement