Acoustic Neuroma

Tumour Group:

Non-Malignant Brain Tumour

WHO Grade:

Grade I

Prevalence/Incidence:

Acoustic neuromas represent 8% of intracranial tumours. Annual incidence is approx. 1/100,000.

Typical Age Range:

All ages are affected but pediatric cases are rare.

Tumour Characteristics

An acoustic neuroma is also known as a vestibular schwannoma, schwannoma, or neurilemmoma. An acoustic neuroma affects the nerves responsible for hearing and balance.

This type of non-malignant brain tumour grows from the sheath surrounding the eighth cranial nerve and as a result can cause such symptoms as hearing loss, balance difficulty and tinnitus. The size of the tumour when first diagnosed is variable and in some cases can be quite large.

Symptoms

Common symptoms include, but are not necessarily limited to:

Dizziness or vertigo
Hearing loss in one ear
Lack of coordination
Tingling or numbness in the face
Tinnitus (ringing in the ear)
Walking and balance problems
Double vision
Trouble with speech or swallowing

Treatment/Standard of Care

There are three treatment options available:

Observation (monitoring)
Microsurgical removal (partial or total)
Stereotactic radiosurgery (single fraction) or radiotherapy (multiple daily fractions delivered using stereotactic techniques)

Some of the factors that influence the optimal treatment strategy include the age of the patient, the size of the tumour, whether the tumour is growing, whether symptoms are present (e.g. imbalance or tinnitus), the quality of the hearing before treatment, the individual results of the surgeon, and the patient’s personal preferences. It is important the patient is fully counselled with regards to the risks and benefits of each option.

Acoustic neuromas can be difficult tumours to remove surgically. Patients with acoustic neuromas should be referred to neurosurgeons with particular expertise in surgery for this tumour type.

Prognosis

A prognosis is an estimate of the likely progress of a disease after a diagnosis, based on an average patient group. Since every person is different, please take time to talk with your health care team about how this information applies to you.

By clicking on 'expand', a statistic on the prognosis for Acoustic Neuroma will be shown.

For brain tumour patients, a prognosis depends on several factors, which can include age and other health issues, the size of the tumour, its molecular profile, the type of tumour, how much can be removed and its response to treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

The outcomes relevant to acoustic neuroma management include facial function, hearing (if present prior to treatment), extent of resection of the tumour if operated, or lack of growth for irradiated tumours, quality of life, and other symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and facial numbness.

Grade I brain tumours tend to have the most favourable survival rates compared to higher grade brain tumours. Although non-malignant, if untreated, acoustic neuroma can in rare situations be life-threatening, particularly if the tumour is very large. This makes it imperative that individuals with persistent inner-ear problems be evaluated to eliminate the possibility of acoustic neuroma.

Stay Informed!

Brain Tumour Types