Where is an acoustic neuroma located?
Location: Acoustic neuromas are usually located in the angle between the cerebellum and the pons, in the back of the skull (the posterior fossa).
What size is considered large for an acoustic neuroma?
Acoustic neuromas are classified according to their size as small (less than 1.5 cm), medium (1.5 to 2.5 cm), or large (more than 2.5 cm) (Fig.
What nerve is affected by acoustic neuroma?
An acoustic neuroma typically grows on one of the branches of the eighth cranial nerve—the nerve that serves as the conduit for information from the ear to support hearing and balance. The above CT scan image shows the eighth cranial nerve as it courses from the brain to the ear.
How does acoustic neuroma occur?
Key points about acoustic neuroma Acoustic neuroma is a noncancer tumor. It affects hearing and balance when the tumor presses on the nerves in the inner ear. It is a rare tumor that often affects middle-aged people. It can be caused by constant exposure to loud noise, or to face and neck radiation.
What kind of tumor is an acoustic neuroma?
Acoustic neuromas, also known as vestibular schwannomas, are benign tumors that arise from the cochleovestibular (hearing and balance) nerve. Over 5,000 of these tumors are diagnosed in the United States per year.
How are acoustic neuroma and vestibular schwannoma treated?
The terms “acoustic neuroma” and “vestibular schwannoma” mean the same thing. It is a rare tumor that often affects middle-aged people. Acoustic neuroma (vestibular schwannoma) is diagnosed using hearing tests and imaging tests. Treatment can include observation (watching and waiting), surgery or radiation.
Can a cochlear implant help with acoustic neuroma?
Patients with neurofibromatosis 2 often develop acoustic neuromas in both ears. This results in severe hearing problems or deafness in both ears. Cochlear implants can help provide a sense of sound to these patients and help them understand speech.
How is acoustic neuroma treated at Mayo Clinic?
Acoustic neuroma usually arises from the Schwann cells covering this nerve and grows slowly or not at all. Rarely, it may grow rapidly and become large enough to press against the brain and interfere with vital functions. Treatments for acoustic neuroma include regular monitoring, radiation and surgical removal. Acoustic neuroma care at Mayo Clinic