Written by Mia Bench
Acoustic neuroma is a benign (non- cancerous) brain tumour. A benign brain tumour is the growth in the brain that usually develops over many of years and does not spread. Acoustic neuromas grow on the vestibulocochlear nerve, the nerve in which is used for hearing and balance. (Unknown, 2019). They tend to affect adults aged from 30 to 60 and typically there is no obvious cause. However, there are a small number of cases which are associated with a genetic condition known as neurofibromatosis type 2. (Unknown, 2019)
Symptoms:
In the first stages, acoustic neuroma may not cause any obvious symptoms. However, gradually symptoms such as hearing loss in one ear, tinnitus and vertigo can occur. This is as a result of the tumour getting larger enough to affect the vestibulocochlear nerve. Larger tumours tend to also cause persistent headaches, blurred vision, numbness in one side of the face and ataxia (Unknown, 2019)
Treatment:
There are three main treatment options for people suffering with acoustic neuromas. Each plan is different depending on the size, position, rate in which growth is occurring as well as your general health.
The three main options are monitoring, surgery and stereotactic radiosurgery. (Unknown, 2019)Monitoring the tumour is an option given to mainly people who are experiencing small tumours. This type of treatment involves regular MRI scans to check on the size and the rate in which the tumour is growing. This plan is usually given to people until the tumour gets bigger and more aggressive. Brain surgery is surgery removes the tumour though an incision in the skull. This surgery is carried out under general anaesthetic if the tumour is large or rapidly growing in size. Stereotactic radiosurgery is used for small tumours or for any small pieces of tumour left over from surgery. This works by using a precise beam of radiation in which prevents the tumour from growing.
Outlooks for acoustic neuroma
Large acoustic neuromas can be serious due to the possible build-up of fluid in the brain, hydrocephalus, although it is rare to reach this stage. Even with treatment many symptoms such as hearing loss can occur. Acoustic neuroma can occasionally return after treatment. This is likely to occur in 1 in 20 people in which have had the tumour surgically removed (Unknown, 2019)
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