Acoustic Neuroma

What Is Acoustic Neuroma? - Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment in India

This short explains the basics of an acoustic neuroma, also known as a vestibular schwannoma. It is a non-cancerous growth that develops on a nerve in the inner ear.

Understanding the condition

• A benign growth. An acoustic neuroma is a non-cancerous tumour. It grows on the main nerve leading from your inner ear to your brain.
• Hearing and balance. This nerve is responsible for your hearing and sense of balance. A growth here can affect both of these functions.
• Slow development. These tumours usually grow very slowly over many years. Many remain small and cause few problems.
• Not cancerous. It is a benign condition. The tumour does not spread to other parts of the body.

Common symptoms and diagnosis

• Main symptoms. The most common symptom is gradual hearing loss in one ear. You may also experience tinnitus, which is a ringing sound in the ear, or unsteadiness.
• Later symptoms. If the tumour grows large enough to press on other nerves, it can cause facial numbness, weakness or tingling. Headaches are also possible.
• Getting a diagnosis. Diagnosis is usually confirmed with an MRI scan of your head. Your doctor may also arrange hearing tests, known as audiometry.

How it is managed

The choice of treatment depends on the tumour's size, its rate of growth and the symptoms it is causing.

• Observation. For small tumours that are not growing or causing significant symptoms, a specialist may suggest regular monitoring with MRI scans.
• Surgical removal. Surgery aims to remove the tumour while preserving hearing and facial nerve function where possible. The technique used depends on the tumour's size and location.
• Stereotactic radiosurgery. This is not an operation. It uses many small, focused beams of radiation to stop the tumour from growing.

The most suitable approach depends on your individual case. A specialist can recommend a course of action after reviewing your medical reports and recent scans.