Current management of acoustic neuromas: Review of surgical approaches and outcomes

Abstract

The management options for patients with acoustic neuromas is discussed with a review of 164 patients assessed and treated between 1994 and 1998. Twenty-one patients have neurofibromatosis type II. In 33 cases initial observation was undertaken with repeated imaging. Surgical removal of 122 tumours was performed in 121 patients. Eleven of these patients have NF2, of whom three underwent Auditory Brainstem Implantation. Hearing preservation tumour removal was attempted in 37 and was successful in 20 (54%). The middle cranial fossa approach was used in ten cases with 100% successful hearing preservation. The retrosigmoid approach was used in 27 cases with 36% successful hearing preservation. N..