About Eric P. Wilkinson, MD Expertise I am a board-certified otolaryngologist with additional subspecialty training in otology, neurotology, and skull base surgery. This is the subspecialty of otolaryngology that involves the ear, hearing, balance organs, the facial nerve, and surgery of the skull base including surgery for acoustic neuroma and other benign and malignant tumors of the base of the skull.
Experience Medical school, residency in otolaryngology, fellowship in otology/neurotology/skull base surgery
Organizations American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
North American Skull Base Society
American Neurotology Society
Publications Laryngoscope Otology and Neurotology
Education/Credentials MD Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 2001
Otolaryngology Residency, University of Iowa Department of Otolaryngology, Iowa City, IA
Otology/Neurotology Fellowship, House Ear Clinic, Los Angeles, CA
Expert: Eric P. Wilkinson, MD Date: 4/17/2008 Subject: Vertigo, tinnitus and facial numbness
Question I have had vertigo with vomiting, fullness of right ear and tinnitus since last November. Recently I have facial numbness to the right side of my face , below my ear and to the right corner of my mouth. I have also had occasional severe headaches for six months on waking up. My ENT suggested that is probably peripheral vestibular but referred my for MRI which I had two days ago, however it was not done with contrast. Would an acoustic neuroma still show without contrast and is it usual for the above to cause facial numbness. You thoughts would be appreciated.
Answer Your symptoms demand an MRI with gadolinium contrast to rule out an acoustic neuroma. You may have Meniere's disease or a variant of it, but this diagnosis depends on having a negative contrasted MRI scan of the inner ear, brain and brainstem.
Hope this helps. Good luck!
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical
advice - the information presented is for patients education only.
Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your
individual case.
