Table of Contents
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prevention
- Images
Vestibular schwannoma; Tumor - acoustic; Cerebellopontine angle tumor; Angle tumor
Treatment
Treatment depends on the size and location of the tumor, your age, and overall health. You and your health care provider must decide whether to watch the tumor (observation), use radiation to stop it from growing, or try to remove it.
Many acoustic neuromas are small and grow very slowly. Small tumors with few or no symptoms may be followed, particularly in older patients. Regular MRI scans will be done.
If they are not treated, some acoustic neuromas can damage the nerves involved in hearing and balance, as well as the nerves responsible for movement and feeling in the face. Very large tumors can lead to a buildup of fluid (
Removing an acoustic neuroma is more commonly done for:
- Larger tumors
- Tumors that are causing symptoms
- Tumors that are growing quickly
- Tumors that are growing near a nerve or part of the brain that is more likely to cause problems
Surgery is done to remove the tumor and prevent other nerve damage. Any remaining hearing is often lost with surgery.
- To slow down or stop the growth of tumors that are hard to remove with surgery
- To treat patients who are unable to have surgery, such as the elderly or people who are very sick
Removing an acoustic neuroma can damage nerves, causing loss of hearing or weakness in the face muscles. This damage is more likely to occur when the tumor is next to or around the nerves.
Support Groups
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Review Date: 05/31/2011
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of
Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of
Medicine; Seth Schwartz, MD, MPH, Otolaryngologist, Virginia Mason
Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve,
MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
