| Vestibular schwannoma | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Acoustic neuroma, acoustic neurilemmoma, perineural fibroblastoma, neurinoma of the acoustic nerve, neurofibroma of the acoustic nerve, schwannoma of the acoustic nerve[1] |
 | |
| Bilateral schwannomas in a person with neurofibromatosis 2 | |
| Specialty | Neuro-oncology |
| Symptoms | Hearing loss, ringing in the ear, dizziness[2][1] |
| Complications | Brainstem or cerebellum compression[2] |
| Usual onset | Gradual, 30 to 60 years old[2][1] |
| Causes | Random chance, neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2)[2] |
| Risk factors | None known[1] |
| Diagnostic method | MRI[2] |
| Differential diagnosis | Meniere's disease, Bell's palsy, meningioma[1] |
| Treatment | Watchful waiting, surgery, radiation therapy[2] |
| Frequency | 1 per 100,000 per year[2] |
Vestibular schwannoma (VS), also known as acoustic neuroma, is a benign tumor that develops from the vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII) that passes from the inner ear to the brain.[2] Symptoms may include hearing loss, ringing in the ear, and dizziness; though some may have no symptoms.[2][1] Other symptoms may include facial numbness and facial weakness.[2] Typically only one side is affected.[2] Complications may include brainstem or cerebellum compression.[2]
When only one side is involved the cause is believed to be random chance.[2] When both sides are involved it is generally related to neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2).[2] NF2 may be either inherited from a persons parents or occur during early development.[2] The underlying mechanism is believed to be due to loss of the function of a gene on chromosome 22 which results in Schwann cells growing in an uncontrolled manner.[2] Diagnosis is suspected based on symptoms and confirmed by MRI.[2]
There are three forms of treatment watchful waiting, surgery, and radiation therapy.[2] Vestibular schwannomas are rare, affecting about 1 per 100,000 people per year.[2][1] Onset is most commonly in those 30 to 60 years old.[2] Women are more commonly affected than men.[1] The condition was first clearly described in 1777 by Eduard Sandifort.[3]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Acoustic Neuroma". NORD. Archived from the original on 17 July 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Health Information, Vestibular Schwannoma (Acoustic Neuroma)". National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). Archived from the original on 2022-01-08. Retrieved 2022-01-03.
- ^ Baskaya, Mustafa K.; Pyle, G. Mark; Roche, Joseph P. (1 January 2019). Vestibular Schwannoma Surgery: A Video Guide. Springer. p. 2. ISBN 978-3-319-99298-3. Archived from the original on 8 April 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2022.