Cerebellopontine Angle Cholesterol Granuloma: A Case Report

Abstract

Cholesterol granulomas are benign growths that occur due to an inflammatory response to cholesterol and hemosiderin. These lesion typically originate in the temporal bone and middle ear, although cerebellopontine angle cholesterol granuloma is exceptionally rare. This report describes a rare occurrence of a cholesterol granuloma developing in the cerebellopontine angle. The patient exhibited unilateral hearing impairment in the left ear accompanied by tinnitus. High resonance computed tomography revealed a lobulated lesion situated at the right cerebellopontine angle, which is also causing erosion of the right mastoid bone, right posterior wall semicircular canal, and right jugular foramen. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated hyperintensity with peripheral hypointense haemosiderin rim on both T1-weighted and T2-weighted images. According to the authors' understanding, this is the third documented instance of cholesterol granuloma manifesting as a tumour in the cerebellopontine region. The authors provide a comprehensive description of the uncommon lesion, including its presentation, imaging findings, histological characteristics, pathophysiology, and surgical therapy.