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Otology/Neurotology

(856) Increased Risk of Vestibular Schwannoma in Female Patients with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Saturday, October 17, 2026

Presenting Author(s)

Daniel Karasik, MD

Resident Physician
University Hospital Case Medical Center/Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Beachwood, Ohio, United States

Co-Author(s)

RK

Rishi Katragadda, BS

Medical Student
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Cleveland, Ohio, United States
EA

Esther Auerbach, BS

Student
SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
Brooklyn, New York, United States
SH

Shmuel Halpert, MD

Research Fellow
HMHN Jersey Shore University Medical Center, United States

Senior Author(s)

KA

Ksenia Aaron, MD

Division Chief, Department of Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery
Department of Otolaryngology, Rambam Medical Center, United States

Introduction: Vestibular schwannoma (VS) is a benign cranial nerve tumor with growing evidence implicating chronic inflammation in its pathogenesis. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a pro-inflammatory endocrine disorder characterized by elevated cytokines such as IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP. This study evaluates whether PCOS is associated with increased risk of VS among reproductive-aged females.

Methods: Using the TriNetX Research Network, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of female patients aged 12–50. Patients with diagnosis of PCOS (ICD-10 E28.2) were identified and compared to matched females without PCOS. The primary outcome was new diagnosis of VS. Risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated.

Results: A total of 529,741 female patients with PCOS were matched to 529,741 females without PCOS. VS occurred in 184 patients with PCOS (0.035%) and 109 patients without PCOS (0.021%), corresponding to a risk difference of 0.014% (95% CI: 0.008%–0.020%). PCOS was associated with a significantly increased risk of VS (RR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.33–2.14, p < 0.0001).

Conclusions: Female patients with PCOS have a significantly higher risk of developing VS. This association may be related to the chronic inflammatory state of PCOS, including dysregulated immune signaling, insulin resistance, and hyperandrogenism. Further research is warranted to explore these mechanisms.