Stapedius reflex and cerebellopontine angle tumours

The stapedius reflex was investigated in 61 patients with cerebellopontine angle tumours, in order to evaluate the reliability of the reflex-decay test in VIIIth nerve disorders. The reflex was completely normal in 11% of the patients. The 2 most frequently observed abnormalities were (1) an absence of the reflex when stimulating the ear on the side of the tumour, and (2) the conjunction of pathological reflex-decay at 0.5 kHz with a unilateral threshold elevation and/or absence of the reflex at other frequencies. The decay test was normal in one-third of the patients with a preserved reflex.