Acoustic neuroma

An acoustic neuroma is a benign, slow growing neoplasm of the Schwann cells of the eighth cranial nerve. Acoustic neuromas are also known by other names such as vestibular schwannoma (VS), acoustic neurinoma, vestibular neuroma, and acoustic neurofibroma. These tumours originate from the Schwann cells in the sheath surrounding the vestibular and cochlear nerves, and can occur either intracranially or extra-axially.

• comprises about 6% of all intracranial tumours
• lesions are usually located in the internal auditory canal or the cerebellopontine angle causing compression of the vestibular nerve and resulting eventually in deafness. Early diagnosis - and thus a high index of suspicion - is strongly influential to the prognosis
• continuous growth of the neuroma may compress the brain stem and also increase intracranial pressure
• in about 40% of patients a defect in the long arm of the 22nd chromosome has been detected
• acoustic neuromas, particularly bilateral cases, may occur in patients with neurofibromatosis

Reference

1. Sass H, Cayé-Thomasen P. Contemporary Molecular Biology of Sporadic Vestibular Schwannomas: A Systematic Review and Clinical Implications. J Int Adv Otol. 2018 Aug;14(2):322-329

• (1) Ramnarine Devindra, Whitfield Peter. Management of patients with vestibular schwannoma. ACNR 2005; 5(4) 2.
• (2) British association of otorhinolaryngologists 2002. Clinical effectiveness guidelines, Acoustic neuroma (vestibular schwannoma)