Brainstem auditory evoked response in adolescents with acoustic
mycotic neuroma due to environmental exposure to toxic molds

Anyanwu E, Campbell AW, High W.

Center for Immune, Environmental and Toxic Disorders, 25010
Oakhurst, Suite 200, Spring, Texas 77386, USA. eanyanwu@h...

Indoor air contamination with toxic opportunistic molds is an
emerging health risk worldwide. Some of the opportunistic molds
include: Stachybotrys chartarum, Aspergillus species (A. fumigatus,
A. flavus, A. niger, A. versicolor etc.), Cladosporium, Alternaria,
Penicillium, Trichoderma, Fusarium graminearum etc. These molds
flourish in homes that are moist and damp. Reports of floods are now
evident in many parts of the world. With these global changes in
climatic conditions that favor the opportunistic mode of living
among these molds, some health authorities are beginning to feel
concerned about the diversity and the extent to which opportunistic
molds can cause adverse health effects in humans. Mycotoxicosis is
the collective name for all the diseases caused by toxic molds.
Frequently, we have cases of acoustic neuroma due to mycotoxicity in
our Center. Mycotic neuroma probably has not been reported before
and the application of brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER)
techniques in acoustic mycotic neuroma have not been reported
either. The aim of this study, therefore, was to report cases and
measurements of acoustic mycotic neuroma in adolescents using the
brainstem auditory evoked response. The patients\' case history,
clinical neurological and neurobehavioral questionnaires were
assessed. Then, the BAERs were recorded between Cz and Ai, with a
second channel, Cz-Ac. The case histories and the questionnaires
were analyzed in conjunction with the outcome of the objective
brainstem auditory evoked response measurements. The prevalent
subjective findings in the patients were headaches, memory loss,
hearing loss, lack of concentration, fatigue, sleep disturbance,
facial swelling, rashes, nosebleeds, diarrhea, abdominal pains and
respiratory difficulties. Objective BAER showed overall
abnormalities in all the patients. Although the waveform
abnormalities varied, 1-3 interpeak latencies were abnormal in all
the patients. Overall results showed the presence of acoustic
mycotic neuroma and confirmed the sensitivity and usefulness of BAER
in screening acoustic mycotic neuroma and sensorineural auditory
dysfunction.

Publication Types:
Review
Review, Tutorial

PMID: 12467209 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]