Cochlear implantation in a patient with superficial siderosis

Superficial siderosis is a rare disease characterized by accumulation of hemosiderin in the leptomeninges, subpial tissue, spinal cord, and cranial nerves. The first clinicopathological description was reported in 1908. Most patients (95%) experience progressive bilateral hearing loss that begins early in the course of disease. The initial management of a patient with hearing loss secondary to superficial siderosis involves sound amplification using hearing aids. However, cochlear implants can be considered in cases where the patient can no longer gain significant benefit from hearing aids. Only 10 studies have described the use of cochlear implants in superficial siderosis and results have been variable. We report the case of a 65-year-old woman with bilateral progressive sensorineural hearing loss caused by superficial siderosis who benefited significantly from cochlear implantation. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.