Acoustic neuroma: a benign tumor in the ear
Written by:The acoustic neuroma is a benign slow growing tumor that occurs in the nerve sheath of balance and hearing. This nerve is located in the inner ear area and reaches the brainstem.
Symptoms of acoustic neuroma tumor
The most common symptom is progressive hearing loss in one ear. It can also be accompanied by tinnitus or noises in the ear as well as gait instability.
It is less commonly presented as unilateral hearing loss or sudden vertiginous crisis, but in these cases should also be tested for this type of tumor discarded. As the lesion grows, symptoms can worsen.
Diagnosis of acoustic neuroma
The diagnosis is based first on an index of suspicion by the otolaryngologist before a unilateral hearing loss or instability of the patient, but the definitive diagnosis is provided by an MRI. This test provides information about the existence of neuroma and see their location, size and type, fundamental data along with the age and symptoms of the patient to make a therapeutic decision.
Treatment of acoustic neuroma
In cases where the tumor with surgery is concerned, there are different possible approaches to the removal of the lesion: the ultimate goal is to remove the tumor while preserving the important surrounding structures, mainly the facial nerve that gives mobility to the face, but in depending on the type of collision possibility also exists hearing conservation.
Recovery removal of a neurinoma
The recovery will have two distinct periods:
- Immediate postoperative period or the first days after surgery. During this period the patient remains in the hospital recovering from the surgery itself said.
- In a second period or second recovery time, the emphasis should be on the recovery of balance, preferably supported on a rehabilitation program balance.
Risks and results of the removal of a neurinoma
The operation results vary depending on tumor size and age of the patient.
The acoustic neuroma surgery is an intracranial surgery that requires high levels of preparation by the surgical team, as it requires to be very thorough to minimize complications and achieve optimal results. The greater the experience of the specialist in the surgical treatment of these tumors, the better the results. For this reason, it is always recommended to ask the surgeon the number of operations performed annually of this disease and what their actual results.
In the hands of the right equipment, when the tumor has been diagnosed in time, the expected effects are complete removal of the tumor with conservation of the facial nerve and a considerable percentage also hearing conservation.
Edited by Roser Berner Ubasos
