The central nervous system (CNS) is the most common site of extramedullary relapse in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, the diagnosis may be challenging due to its protean manifestations. A 64-year-old male reported right-sided hearing loss with intermittent bilateral occipitotemporal headaches during a clinic follow-up for Ph + B-ALL....

Audiologists and ENT clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for non-schwannoma diagnoses when audiovestibular presentations are atypical or when the patient has a relevant cancer history — imaging alone may be insufficient for differentiation.

This case underscores that mass lesions of the cerebellopontine angle are not always vestibular schwannomas, and missed or delayed diagnosis of CNS malignancy in this region can be life-threatening.

1. 01A CNS relapse of B-lymphoblastic leukemia radiologically mimicked a vestibular schwannoma.
2. 02The case highlights the diagnostic pitfall of assuming audiovestibular mass lesions are benign schwannomas.
3. 03Highlights the importance of clinical history (e.g., prior malignancy) in differential diagnosis of inner-ear/nerve tumors.
4. 04Published in Clinical Case Reports; evidence is inherently limited to a single patient.
5. 05Relevant to audiologists, ENT surgeons, and neurologists involved in tumor workups.

PMID

42125164

DOI

10.1002/ccr3.72670.

Journal

Clinical Case Reports

Publication type

case_report

Evidence level

4

Sample size

1

Population

Single patient with B-lymphoblastic leukemia presenting with CNS relapse mimicking vestibular schwannoma

Intervention

Diagnostic workup of suspected vestibular schwannoma