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- What Is Acoustic Neuroma And How Can The Tumour Be Treated?
What Is Acoustic Neuroma And How Can The Tumour Be Treated?
When a patient sees a doctor for dizzy spells, hearing loss or headaches, they can often assume the worst, with their thoughts going straight to fast-growing brain tumours. However, another explanation for these symptoms could be the development of acoustic neuroma.
Most people who discover they have acoustic neuroma have probably had it for many years without realising, with the cells growing slowly over time.
The main reason it is eventually detected is because it sits on the eighth cranial nerve, which extends from the brain to the inner ear and controls hearing and balance.
Therefore, when the tumour grows, it can cause symptoms such as hearing loss in one ear usually, vertigo, tinnitus, facial muscle weakness, and regular headaches.
If the tumour is quite large, it can also lead to blurred or double vision, problems with coordination, difficulty swallowing, balance issues, voice changes, or numbness, weakness or pain in one side of the face.
Therefore, although the cells do not destroy healthy cells like cancer does, patients might want to get the tumour removed to alleviate their symptoms.
Without treatment, a growing acoustic neuroma can result in the build up of fluid on the brain, which can be life-threatening. Therefore, it is best for anyone experiencing symptoms to seek medical help as soon as possible.
A lot of the time, audiologists might detect acoustic neuroma in patients who are worried about their hearing loss, from which they can refer them for further tests and scans to determine the size and severity of the tumour.
neurofibromatosis type 2. In these cases, they would have a parent who is a carrier of the condition, though they may not have known.
This is particularly for children who have acoustic neuromas, and they tend to have problems with their hearing on both sides.
However, it is unknown why other people develop acoustic neuromas, with the tumours usually being detected in people between the ages of 30 and 60.
However, if the symptoms are impacting their quality of life or it appears to be fast growing, they can choose to have it removed or reduced in size.
They could have a craniotomy, which is when a small section of the skull is cut out for the surgeon to access the tumour and get rid of it. Whether surgery takes place depends on the size and position of the tumour.
Another treatment patients might be offered is intratympanic gentamicin therapy, which involves taking antibiotics that damage the balance nerve. This takes place before neurosurgery to help patients’ brain handle the loss of balance that often occurs when the tumour is removed.
Alternatively, they could undergo stereotactic radiotherapy, which uses radiation beams to target the tumours, killing the cells while not impacting on the surrounding healthy tissue.
This is often used for small acoustic neuromas, as the radiosurgery can target particularly defined areas.
Stereotactic radiotherapy can also be used to target any pieces of tumour that remain in the brain after surgery.
Radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which are commonly used to treat cancers, are rarely offered as a treatment for acoustic neuromas, as they are better at targeting cells that are developing rapidly.
Although removal of the tumour can help patients with their symptoms, some people continue to suffer from hearing loss and tinnitus and may need additional treatments to deal with these issues.
Occasionally, acoustic neuromas can return after being removed, which is why it is sensible to continue having MRI scans following the procedure to check whether it has come back.
In cases of returning acoustic neuromas, the doctor might suggest radiation therapy to target the remaining tumour. Alternatively, surgery might be recommended, although scar tissue can make it difficult to separate the tumour from nerves.
Signs of acoustic neuroma returning include facial muscle weakness or spasms, as well as hearing loss and balance difficulties. Therefore, patients with a history of this type of growth need to pay particular attention to any changes in their face muscles.
Acoustic neuroma explained
Acoustic neuroma is classified as a benign or low-grade brain tumour that is sometimes known as vestibular schwannoma.Most people who discover they have acoustic neuroma have probably had it for many years without realising, with the cells growing slowly over time.
The main reason it is eventually detected is because it sits on the eighth cranial nerve, which extends from the brain to the inner ear and controls hearing and balance.
Therefore, when the tumour grows, it can cause symptoms such as hearing loss in one ear usually, vertigo, tinnitus, facial muscle weakness, and regular headaches.
If the tumour is quite large, it can also lead to blurred or double vision, problems with coordination, difficulty swallowing, balance issues, voice changes, or numbness, weakness or pain in one side of the face.
Therefore, although the cells do not destroy healthy cells like cancer does, patients might want to get the tumour removed to alleviate their symptoms.
Without treatment, a growing acoustic neuroma can result in the build up of fluid on the brain, which can be life-threatening. Therefore, it is best for anyone experiencing symptoms to seek medical help as soon as possible.
A lot of the time, audiologists might detect acoustic neuroma in patients who are worried about their hearing loss, from which they can refer them for further tests and scans to determine the size and severity of the tumour.
Causes for acoustic neuromas
Some acoustic neuromas are linked to a genetic disorder calledThis is particularly for children who have acoustic neuromas, and they tend to have problems with their hearing on both sides.
However, it is unknown why other people develop acoustic neuromas, with the tumours usually being detected in people between the ages of 30 and 60.
What is the treatment for acoustic neuroma?
As acoustic neuromas are the slowest growing type of tumour, some people prefer to have them monitored regularly rather than removed. When their growth rate seems to be increasing, the patient and doctor might together decide to have it extracted.However, if the symptoms are impacting their quality of life or it appears to be fast growing, they can choose to have it removed or reduced in size.
They could have a craniotomy, which is when a small section of the skull is cut out for the surgeon to access the tumour and get rid of it. Whether surgery takes place depends on the size and position of the tumour.
Another treatment patients might be offered is intratympanic gentamicin therapy, which involves taking antibiotics that damage the balance nerve. This takes place before neurosurgery to help patients’ brain handle the loss of balance that often occurs when the tumour is removed.
Alternatively, they could undergo stereotactic radiotherapy, which uses radiation beams to target the tumours, killing the cells while not impacting on the surrounding healthy tissue.
This is often used for small acoustic neuromas, as the radiosurgery can target particularly defined areas.
Stereotactic radiotherapy can also be used to target any pieces of tumour that remain in the brain after surgery.
Radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which are commonly used to treat cancers, are rarely offered as a treatment for acoustic neuromas, as they are better at targeting cells that are developing rapidly.
Although removal of the tumour can help patients with their symptoms, some people continue to suffer from hearing loss and tinnitus and may need additional treatments to deal with these issues.
Occasionally, acoustic neuromas can return after being removed, which is why it is sensible to continue having MRI scans following the procedure to check whether it has come back.
In cases of returning acoustic neuromas, the doctor might suggest radiation therapy to target the remaining tumour. Alternatively, surgery might be recommended, although scar tissue can make it difficult to separate the tumour from nerves.
Signs of acoustic neuroma returning include facial muscle weakness or spasms, as well as hearing loss and balance difficulties. Therefore, patients with a history of this type of growth need to pay particular attention to any changes in their face muscles.
