pons calcification

[lori__0__0]

  : : My problem began with ear ringing.  I had a hearing test that led to an auditory brainstem response test, which was abnormal.  Next I had a MRI which revealed what they thought to be either a torturous blood vessel or aneurysm or a calcified area.  I then had a cat scan and I was told that it was a calcified area on my pons.  I was told that it was not a problem.  I received no follow-up and was wondering if I should have this checked periodically, is it life threatening or do I need to seek a second opinion. Thanks
  : Dear Lorri:
  : Sorry to hear of your hearing problem.  How is your hearing now?  Still having a problem?  Where was the problem based on your auditory brainstem response test?  If it was near the area of the pons then the answer to your hearing problem was likely the calcification.  However, if the area of the hearing loss was not in this area then the calcification was likely only found because of the MRI and subsequent CT.  So, if the area of calcification was in area V, then that is where the block occured.  If it occured at another point in the test, then the calcification was not involved.  Calcifications can arise from many causes, and the MRI/MRA ruled out most of the worst causes.  I would think that your neurologist will probably only follow you clinically.  Depending on your health status, such as hypertension, high cholesterol, smoker, etc. this might influence how often he/she follows you.  I hope I helped.
  : Sincerely,
  : CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS
  Thank you for answering my question. I still have ringing in my ears.  I have trouble hearing around alot of noise.  Couple of noteworthy incidents in my life, I had Bell's Palsey on the right side and an ear infection on that same side when I was little.  The hearing problem and ringing is in the right ear. Currently, I am in excellent health, but planning a possible pregnancy and was thereby concerned about a calcification, especially in my brain.  What are some of the causes?  I did not obtain any clear answers from my doctor.  Do calcifications progress such as in the heart with blocked arteries?  My grandmother died of a stroke and you can see why I would like to find futher information about this topic.  You said the MRI revealed it only because of the hearing loss.  Do most go undected and cause no problems?
Dear Lorri:
Bell's Palsy is not the likely source of your hearing problem.  Almost all patients recover completely from this entity.  There is a small subset that have remaining hyperacusis (loud sounds causing problems) but you would have had this from whenever you had the Bell's palsy and your auditory test would have picked this up, since it sounds like you didn't, your not one of the small minority of patients who have this problem.  Now the other question, I think that the calcification was found only because of the MRI.  There are many things that could cause calcifications but it is impossible to tell you why it occurred in you.  For instance, a small bleed in one of the areas of the pons, a tumor, an abnormality of the blood vessels, etc. could have formed areas of calcification.  Since you have had no ill effects, nor did the MRI/MRA show any reason for the calcifications, I don't think that you should worry about it.  It is unlikely that it is an ongoing process as by clincial examination, MRI/MRA, and blood work are all negative.  I would try put this in perspective and let it not effect your life.  The truth of the matter, if we imaged everyone we would find somesort of abnormality is a percentage of the "normal" population having no signs or symptoms.  I hope your hearing problem resolves.  Best of luck.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS