A 60-year-old woman with diabetes presents with asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss. MRI shows a 15 mm enhancing mass at the cerebellopontine angle extending into the internal auditory canal. Which finding is most characteristic of this lesion on histopathology?

• A Granular cells with PAS-positive cytoplasm
• B Psammoma bodies and whorled architecture
• C Keratin pearls with intercellular bridges
• D Antoni A and Antoni B areas with Verocay bodies ✓

Explanation

Vestibular schwannoma (acoustic neuroma) is the most common cerebellopontine angle tumor, presenting with asymmetric SNHL. Histopathology shows alternating Antoni D (cellular, palisading nuclei with Verocay bodies) and Antoni B (loose, myxoid) areas. Psammoma bodies suggest meningioma, while keratin pearls indicate squamous cell carcinoma.

Reference: Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.