Incidence of vestibular schwannoma and incidental findings on the magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scans of patients from a direct referral audiology clinic.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the incidence of vestibular schwannoma amongst patients referred from a direct referral audiology clinic, and also the number of incidental findings, as seen on magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography scans.
METHOD: Prospective data collection for patients referred from a direct referral audiology clinic due to audiological evidence of asymmetrical hearing loss. The audiograms, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scans of patients with diagnosed vestibular schwannoma were subsequently reviewed.
RESULTS: A total of 4100 patients were seen during the study period, with 396 scans performed. Six (1.5 per cent) patients had vestibular schwannoma, while 12 (3 per cent) had significant incidental findings.
CONCLUSION: Patients referred from the direct referral audiology clinic had a low incidence of vestibular schwannoma detection. Their detection rate for significant incidental findings was similar to previous reports. If the current protocol had not been in place, over 300 patients would have been needlessly added to the ENT clinic list. Thus, general practitioner referral to direct referral audiology clinics provides a cost-effective way of managing asymmetrical sensorineural hearing loss in older patients. The number of such clinics could be expanded.