Acoustic neuroma

Acoustic neuroma (vestibular schwannoma) is a rare tumor that develops on the nerve that connects the ear to the brain. It can be benign, small, slow growing and with no symptoms or large, faster growing and aggressive and potentially fatal, presenting with symptoms of hearing and balance impairment, vertigo, ataxia, headache, numbness or paralysis of the face. Symptoms can include:

• Loss of hearing on one side
• Ringing in ears
• Dizziness and balance problems

Ear exams, hearing tests, and scans can show if you have acoustic neuroma.
If the tumor stays small, you may only need to have it checked regularly. If you do need treatment, surgery and radiation are options.
If the tumors affect both hearing nerves, it is often because of a genetic disorder called neurofibromatosis.
More about acoustic neuroma

Acoustic neuroma

Source: National Institute on deafness

What is a vestibular schwannoma (acoustic neuroma)?

A vestibular schwannoma (also known as acoustic neuroma, acoustic neurinoma, or acoustic neurilemoma) is a benign, usually slow-growing tumor that develops from the balance and hearing nerves supplying the inner ear.

Acoustic Neuroma (in short)

MRI. T Dvorak MD Orlando FL

Vestibular schwannomas (VS), or acoustic neuromas, are benign neoplasms of the myelin-forming Schwann cells of the vestibulocochlear nerve. They arise commonly within the internal auditory meatus, and may extend into the cerebellopontine angle (region of the brain near the cerebellum). Reported incidence is 1 per 100,000 person-years and typical presentation occurs in the 5th or 6th decade of life. Symptoms are related to dysfunction of the vestibulocochlear nerve or anatomically related structures. Of patients diagnosed with VS,95% have ipsilateral (same side) hearing loss. A significant fraction will also experience tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in the ears), vertigo, or disequilibrium; facial or trigeminal neuropathy may occur with larger tumour. The indicated treatment for VS may depend on the patient's symptoms, tumour size, growth rate, age, and life expectancy. Management choices include conservative observation or treatment with stereotactic radiosurgery, fractionated radiotherapy, and microsurgery. Therapeutic success may be measured by tumour control, commonly referred to as cessation of growth or a reduction in tumour size.
source: Benjamin J Arthurs et al. University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle 2009-12-18 World Journal of Surgical Oncology