Question Title: Arachnoid Cyst - Hearing Loss

A recent MRI has revealed that I have a large arachnoid cyst involving the right anterior middle cranial fossa with extrinsic pressure on the anterior tip of the right temporal lobe. The initial purpose of the MRI was to rule out acoustic neuroma. Approximately two years ago I lost 40 percent of my hearing in both ears. About 8 months ago, I began experiencing dizziness while driving and have frequent severe headaches. My ENT has referred me to a neurosurgeon for consultation. The ENT says its possible that my hearing loss could be due to the cyst sitting right on tope of the ear bone. My question is if the cyst is drained or removed, and it is the cause of my hearing loss, will my hearing return to normal or is it permanently damaged? Also, because the cyst is on the right side, is it possible that it is impacting both sides of my hearing?
Thanks,
Jody

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It is hard to predict what effect if any removal of this lesion will have on your hearing. I do not have the benefit of actually seeing the scan and cannot say if it is the cause of your problems in the first place.
It is entirely possible that this cyst has been present all of your life and that it has nothing to do with your symprons.
Hearing is represented from each ear on both sides of the brain, so that this area can be completely cut out in epilepsy surgery leaving no appreciable effect on hearing.
The bilateral representation is a protection from losing hearing in both ears rather than a factor which would make it more likely.
If this is the cause of any your problems the outcome of surgery would depend on how the cyst is affecting vitsal structures, if it is merely a pressure effect I would suspect that there would be recovery, if tissue has been destroyed it will not. The bottom line though, is that I doubt if this is responsible for hearing loss in both ears, although it could cause headaches and diziness.

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