B. Acoustin neuroma – Explanation
Hearing loss, feeling of pressure in the ear with tinnitus, vertigo and involvement of
cranial nerve e.g. right abducens nerve are suggestive of acoustic neuroma.
cranial nerve e.g. right abducens nerve are suggestive of acoustic neuroma.
ACOUSTIC NEUROMA
Acoustic neuromas (more correctly called vestibular schwannomas) account for
approximately five percent of intracranial tumours and 90 percent of cerebellopontine
angle. It causes problems by having local pressure and behaving as a space-occupying
lesion.
Features can be predicted by the affected cranial nerves
• Cranial nerve VIII: hearing loss (sensorineural deafness), vertigo, tinnitus
• Cranial nerve V: absent corneal reflex
• Cranial nerve VII: facial palsy
Bilateral acoustic neuromas are seen in neurofibromatosis type 2
Investigation
• MRI of the cerebellopontine angle is the investigation of choice.
