Acoustic NeuromaSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Acoustic Neuroma
An acoustic neuroma is a slow-growing tumor of the nerve that connects the ear to the brain. This nerve is called the vestibular cochlear nerve. It is behind the ear, right under the brain.
An acoustic neuroma is a benign tumor. This means that it does not spread to other parts of the body. However, it can damage several important nearby nerves as it grows.
Vestibular schwannoma; Tumor - acoustic; Cerebellopontine angle tumor; Angle tumor; Hearing loss - acoustic; Tinnitus - acoustic
Acoustic neuromas have been linked with the genetic disorder neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2).
Acoustic neuromas are uncommon.
The symptoms vary, based on the size and location of the tumor. Because the tumor grows so slowly, symptoms most often start after age 30.
Common symptoms include:
- Abnormal feeling of movement (vertigo)
- Hearing loss in the affected ear that makes it hard to hear conversations
- Ringing (tinnitus) in the affected ear
Less common symptoms include:
- Difficulty understanding speech
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Loss of balance
- Numbness in the face or one ear
- Pain in the face or one ear
- Weakness of the face or facial asymmetry
Treatment depends on the size and location of the tumor, your age, and your overall health. You and your provider must decide whether to watch the tumor without treatment, use radiation treatment 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 watched for changes, especially in older people. Regular MRI scans will be done.
If not treated, some acoustic neuromas can:
- Damage the nerves involved in hearing and balance
- Place pressure on nearby brain tissue
- Harm the nerves responsible for movement and feeling in the face
- Lead to a buildup of fluid (hydrocephalus) in the brain (with very large tumors)
Removing an acoustic neuroma is more commonly done for:
- Larger tumors
- Tumors that are causing symptoms
- Tumors that are growing quickly
- Tumors that are pressing on the brain
Surgery or a type of radiation treatment is done to remove the tumor and prevent other nerve damage. Depending on the type of surgery performed, hearing can sometimes be preserved.
- The surgical technique to remove an acoustic neuroma is called microsurgery. A special microscope and small, precise instruments are used. This technique offers a higher chance of cure.
- Stereotactic radiosurgery focuses high-powered x-rays on a small area. It is a form of radiation therapy, not a surgical procedure. It may be used to slow down or stop the growth of tumors that are hard to remove with surgery. It may also be done to treat people who are unable to have surgery, such as older adults or people who are very sick.
Removing an acoustic neuroma can damage the acoustic or other nerves. This may cause loss of hearing or weakness in the face muscles. This damage is more likely to occur when the tumor is large.
Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital Neurology - 3555 W 13 Mile
Jeffrey Jacob is a Neurosurgery provider in Royal Oak, Michigan. Dr. Jacob is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Acoustic Neuroma. His top areas of expertise are Acoustic Neuroma, Schwannoma, Subependymoma, Gamma Knife Radiosurgery, and Awake Craniotomy. Dr. Jacob is currently accepting new patients.
Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center
Dr. Jaishri Blakeley is the Marjorie Bloomberg Tiven Professor of Neurofibromatosis in Neurology, Oncology, and Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, director of the Johns Hopkins Comprehensive Neurofibromatosis Center and director of the Neurofibromatosis Therapeutic Acceleration Program (NTAP). She is an active clinician-scientist specializing in the care of people with NF1, NF2, LZTR1, SMARC1 schwannomatoses, and primary brain tumors. Her research expertise in the development of clinical trials for nervous system tumors and specifically, early clinical-translational studies including tumor pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic investigations, imaging biomarkers for rare nervous system tumors, and incorporation of patient-focused, functional endpoints into efficacy studies. She has been the national or international leader of 7 clinical trials focused on therapies for glioblastoma, NF1 and NF2. In 2012 she cofounded the NTAP to dramatically shift the landscape of NF1 via necessary, efficient, and expert discovery, translational and clinical research. NTAP focuses on therapeutics, fosters collaboration, facilitates open and timely sharing of results, and streamlines the research process to accelerate therapies for plexiform and cutaneous neurofibromas. Through NTAP, Dr. Blakeley has supported and collaborated with more than 80 laboratories and research teams across the globe enabling meaningful therapeutic development for NF1-associated neoplasms and supporting the development of an exceptional community of clinician scientists focused on NF1 via the Francis S. Collins Scholars Program in Neurofibromatosis Clinical and Translational Research. Her research and programmatic efforts are all in the service of improving outcomes for the patients with NF1, NF2, schwannomatosis, and primary brain cancer for whom she is honored to provide care. Dr. Blakeley is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Acoustic Neuroma. Her top areas of expertise are Neurofibromatosis, Schwannomatosis, Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2), Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1), and Laminectomy.
Michigan Ear Institute
Seilesh Babu is an Otolaryngologist in Farmington Hills, Michigan. Dr. Babu has been practicing medicine for over 29 years and is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Acoustic Neuroma. His top areas of expertise are Acoustic Neuroma, Schwannoma, Otosclerosis, Stapedectomy, and Mastoidectomy. Dr. Babu is currently accepting new patients.
An acoustic neuroma is not cancer. The tumor does not spread to other parts of the body. However, it may continue to grow and press on structures in the skull.
People with small, slow-growing tumors may not need treatment.
Hearing loss present before treatment is not likely to return after surgery or radiosurgery. In cases of smaller tumors, hearing loss that occurs after surgery may return.
Most people with small tumors will have no permanent weakness of the face after surgery. However, people with large tumors are more likely to have some permanent weakness of the face after surgery.
Signs of nerve damage such as loss of hearing or weakness of the face may be delayed after radiosurgery.
In most cases, brain surgery can completely remove the tumor.
Contact your provider if you have:
- Hearing loss that is sudden or getting worse
- Ringing in one ear
- Dizziness (vertigo)
Summary: NOTE: This is a research study and is not meant to be a substitute for clinical genetic testing. Families may never receive results from the study or may receive results many years from the time they enroll. If you are interested in clinical testing please consider seeing a local genetic counselor or other genetics professional. If you have already had clinical genetic testing and meet eligibility...
Summary: Brief Summary The purpose of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether different strategies of vestibular rehabilitation, performed before and after surgery, can improve recovery in adults diagnosed with unilateral vestibular schwannoma. The main questions the study aims to answer are: Does preoperative vestibular telerehabilitation improve postoperative vestibular compensation compared with no i...
Published Date: May 02, 2024
Published By: Josef Shargorodsky, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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DeAngelis LM. Tumors of the central nervous system. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 180.
Mellinghoff IK, DeAngelis LM. Tumors of the central nervous system. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 175.