What is Treatment of Acoustic Neuroma?

What is Treatment of Acoustic Neuroma?

Acoustic neuroma is also known as vestibular schwannomas or neurolemmomas. Acoustic neuroma is a result of a slow-growing non-cancerous tumour of the vestibular nerve. The vestibular nerve is responsible for sending sensory signals from the inner ear to the brain which helps in maintaining balance and for hearing. The blockage in the vestibular system results in making the person feel dizzy or off-balance. The nerve is even responsible for hearing, the inflammation or disorder in the vestibular nerve can cause hindrance in hearing, resulting in hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing in the ear). Acoustic neuromas start growing slowly in the later stage, but you may start experiencing symptoms quite suddenly. The large tumour affects the brain stem or cerebellum, by gradually exerting some pressure on the brain, however, they do not damage the brain. The tumour does not spread in the other part of the body but the large tumours can prove to be a life-threatening cause for the patients. It even presses nearby cranial nerves that are responsible for controlling the muscles of facial expression and sensation. A large percentage of people between the age limit ranging from 30 to 60 years are diagnosed with Acoustic neuroma every year. Sometimes patients take some time in diagnosing the symptoms as the tumour grows slowly. Hearing loss in either of the ears, ringing sensation known as tinnitus, Facial numbness, weakness or a feeling of tingling on the face, Unsteadiness or loss of balance are some of the common symptoms of Acoustic neuroma or neurolemmomas. If the case becomes complex or has entered the later stage, patients of Acoustic neuroma may experience some symptoms like change in taste, change in voice, difficulty in swallowing & so on. It is advised to seek medical help immediately as soon as you start observing any Acoustic neuroma symptoms. Treating the condition on time helps in curing the condition. Your doctor will diagnose the underlying condition and would suggest the right treatment for the same accordingly. 

Diagnosis and treatment for Acoustic Neuroma

As you visit a medical professional after experiencing symptoms of Acoustic Neuroma, your doctor would ask you to undergo various tests like Videonystagmography (VNG), Audiometry, MRI, etc. for examining and evaluating the underlying condition and the size of the tumour. The accurate diagnosis of such a condition helps in getting the right treatment. The growth of Acoustic Neuroma tumours is monitored through serial MRIs. 

Before suggesting the treatment your doctor will seek the complete medical history along with the age of the patient. In some rare cases, if the tumour is small doctors may ask for watchful waiting and would recommend no further action. Your doctor will suggest the treatment of Acoustic Neuroma depending on the underlying condition and the size of the tumour. He would recommend surgery and radiation if tumours are causing symptoms of compression.

Surgery depends on the intensity of hearing loss, size of the tumour and the general condition of the patient. Whereas radiation is used to shrink and kill the tumour cells of the vestibular nerve.

Before doctors suggest radiation for treating Acoustic Neuroma, he would check the size and shape of the tumour along with the age and medical history. Radiation is often advised if the tumour can’t be decreased in size surgically.

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