Duke is one of a handful of centers in the U.S. Now surgeons are working around the acoustic neuromas - sometimes leaving them, or a portion of them, and the cochlear nerve intact - and inserting a cochlear implant to preserve or restore hearing. Recently, however, surgeons started using cochlear implants after several studies showed they could restore hearing in some acoustic neuroma patients without removing the tumors. That left doctors limited in their ability to provide meaningful hearing improvement. The tumor’s growth may slow or stop, and it might also recede to a size that allows for comfortable living with mild or no symptoms.Ĭall Northwest Ear Institute at (503) 444-7676 for more information or to schedule an appointment.In the past, surgical removal of the tumor also required removal of the cochlear nerve, which controls hearing. In some cases, radiation therapy delivered directly to the site of the tumor can limit damage to the surrounding tissue and may help to preserve hearing outcomes better than more conventional surgical techniques. Patients may lose part or all of their functional hearing in the affected ear.
Typically, a small section of bone above or behind the ear canal is removed, allowing the surgeon to view and access the nerve pathway and effectively remove the tumor. Surgery may involve removing all or part of the tumor. Monitoring the tumor’s rate of growth will help your doctor determine what treatment is needed. Treatment Methodsĭepending on how quickly or slowly the tumor is growing, immediate treatment may not be necessary. Speak to your doctor if you experience any combination of these symptoms, as they may signal a condition that requires urgent attention.
Many will assume these symptoms are part of normal changes that take place as the body ages. Dizziness, clumsiness, or loss of balance.Tinnitus, or ringing in the ear, on one side.Gradual hearing loss, usually affecting one ear (although, in some cases, hearing loss may be sudden).Symptoms are likely to change or progress as the tumor increases in size, but it’s possible for even a small tumor to cause significant signs and symptoms. SymptomsĮarly symptoms are often subtle and are usually a direct result of the tumor disrupting the auditory nerve, nearby blood vessels, or brain structures. Medical researchers are not yet certain what causes an acoustic neuroma to materialize randomly in the other 95% of cases, but exposure to high doses of radiation, especially to the head and neck, may be a risk factor. This disorder is called neurofibromatosis type 2 and is rare neurofibromatosis accounts for only 5% of acoustic neuromas. This gene normally produces a protein that helps control the growth of certain cells covering the nerves, but without this protein, the cells overproduce and wrap around the nerve, leading to the formation of the tumor. If the acoustic neuroma is the result of a genetic disorder, it will typically develop in both ears due to a malfunctioning gene in a specific chromosome. Acoustic Neuromas Home » Ear Conditions » Acoustic Neuromas
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