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| 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
