About
Other Name: Vestibular Schwannoma
(Greek: 'Neuroma': 'nerve tumor')
Acoustic neuroma is a benign intercranial tumor involving the myelin-forming Schwann cells of the vestibular portion of the 8th cranial nerve in the peripheral nervous system. It is a slow-growing tumor, which usually does not spread beyond its site of origin within the brain.
Before we go any further on acoustic neuroma it is essential to give a run up to the parts involved in the tumor formation.
The auditory nerve is a group of nerve fibers that transmit hearing information between the cochlea (situated in the inner ear) and the brain. The vestibular nerve, on the other hand, is responsible for carrying balance-related information from the semicircular canals of the ear to the brain. During their passage through the bony canals of the skull, the auditory and the vestibular nerves become conjoined and come to be known as the Vestibulocochlear nerve or the 8th cranial nerve.

Hearing loss is often cochlea-related and it is only a very small percentage of hearing problems that is auditory nerve – related. Acoustic neuroma is one of them.
The term ‘acoustic’ neuroma is a misnomer as the tumor does not arise from the cochlear part of the vestibulocochlear nerve. Instead it arises from the vestibular division of the nerve and hence the correct terminology of the tumor is ‘vestibular schwannoma’, a term which also indicates its Schwann cells origin .
As the tumor develops, it begins to occupy the angle between the cerebellum and the pons and may compress the 5th, 7th, (sometimes even the 9th and 10th) cranial nerves. In due course, it may begin to compress the pons and lateral medulla which in turn may obstruct the cerebrospinal fluid and increase the intracranial pressure.
The second most common form of schwannomas involving cranial nerves is the Trigeminal neuromas.
Latest Publications and Research on Acoustic Neuroma
- Clinical Results After Single-fraction Radiosurgery for 1,002 Vestibular Schwannomas. - Published by PubMed
- The Influence of Vestibular Schwannoma Tumor Volume and Growth on Hearing Loss. - Published by PubMed
- Patient Demographics Influencing Vestibular Schwannoma Size and Initial Management Plans. - Published by PubMed
- Validation and multidimensional analysis of the japanese penn acoustic neuroma quality-of-life scale. - Published by PubMed
- Predictive Value of Preoperative and Intraoperative Neurophysiology in Evaluating Long-term Facial Function Outcome in Acoustic Neuroma Surgery. - Published by PubMed
Citations
Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:
-
APA
Dr. Reeja Tharu. (2017, February 04). Acoustic Neuroma - Incidence Causes Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Counselling. Medindia. Retrieved on Jun 26, 2022 from https://www.medindia.net/patients/patientinfo/acoustic-neuroma.htm.
-
MLA
Dr. Reeja Tharu. "Acoustic Neuroma - Incidence Causes Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Counselling". Medindia. Jun 26, 2022. <https://www.medindia.net/patients/patientinfo/acoustic-neuroma.htm>.
Chicago
Dr. Reeja Tharu. "Acoustic Neuroma - Incidence Causes Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Counselling". Medindia. https://www.medindia.net/patients/patientinfo/acoustic-neuroma.htm. (accessed Jun 26, 2022).
Harvard
Dr. Reeja Tharu. 2021. Acoustic Neuroma - Incidence Causes Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Counselling. Medindia, viewed Jun 26, 2022, https://www.medindia.net/patients/patientinfo/acoustic-neuroma.htm.
very good info. I suffer sudden hearing loss left ear in 1992 and now rt ear in 2007. ENT docs never advise except using hearing aid. I am engineer and was always thining something like this. I used to enjoy classicle music. But now i listen tunes which I know hear distorted. wher can I check up and possibly get help? I am 69 years of age. so....