What Is The Progression Of An Acoustic Neuroma
What Is the Progression of an Acoustic Neuroma?
An acoustic neuroma (also known as vestibular schwannoma) is a benign (not malignant) tumour that develops from the balance and auditory nerves that supply the inner ear. It is usually slow-growing and does not cause symptoms.
The tumour is caused by an overproduction of Schwann cells, which are cells that typically surround nerve fibres and support and insulate the neurons in their normal function.
The acoustic neuroma causes unilateral hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), dizziness, and balance problems because it puts pressure on the hearing and balance nerves.
As it grows, it can potentially impact the face nerve (trigeminal nerve), resulting in facial numbness and tingling. It can also pressure the nerves that control the facial muscles, resulting in weakening or paralysis of the facial muscles on the side of the tumour where the tumour is situated.
When massive tumours press heavily on the brainstem and cerebellum, vital functions may be jeopardised.
One in every 100,000 persons will acquire an auditory neuroma at some point. Unilateral acoustic neuromas account for approximately 8% of all tumours inside the skull.
Symptoms can manifest themselves at any age, but they are most frequently seen between 30 and 60. Acoustic neuromas that develop on one side of the body are not inherited.
How Is It Determined If It Exists?
Early identification of acoustic neuroma can be challenging because the symptoms are often minor, if present at all, in the early stages of the disease.
Because many middle and inner ear diseases exhibit symptoms that are similar to one another, diagnosing them can be difficult.
An extensive ear examination and hearing test (audiogram) are required as soon as symptoms emerge to make a reliable diagnosis.
Early identification of acoustic neuroma requires the use of computed tomography (CT) scans augmented with intravenous contrast and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images.
These examinations are beneficial in detecting the position and size of the tumour and planning its removal through microsurgery.
What Are the Procedures for Treatment?
Early detection of an acoustic neuroma is critical for avoiding its potentially life-threatening implications. Radiation, surgery, and surveillance are the three therapeutic options available for this condition.
Typically, the tumour is removed with surgery. The specific type of surgery required will be determined by the size of the tumour and the amount of remaining hearing in the affected ear.
If the tumour is relatively small, it may be possible to preserve hearing function while also alleviating the underlying symptoms. However, the larger the tumour grows, the more challenging surgical removal becomes since the tumour may have injured the nerves that regulate facial motions, hearing, balance, and other brain structures, making removal more difficult.
If the tumour has impacted these nerves, surgical excision of the tumour may increase the person’s symptoms since segments of the nerves themselves may need to be removed as part of the surgical procedure.
Fortunately, vestibular rehabilitation can assist the central nervous system to compensate for the loss of function in the inner ear in these circumstances.
Living with a balance issue has a variety of consequences on a person’s life. Many things that were once straightforward are now difficult, if not impossible, to accomplish. The mundane tasks of going to the mall, buying groceries, attending a play, and visiting family can feel like mountainous ascents.
Furthermore, because your symptoms are invisible, your friends, family, and coworkers will not understand what you are going through and may even doubt that your symptoms are real.
The vestibular system is critical to the proper functioning of the human body. Consequently, damage or sickness to the vestibular system impacts how you feel and how well you can do your regular everyday tasks. When it comes to financial problems, it’s easy to become overwhelmed and perplexed. The following are some suggestions for dealing with frequent scenarios that you may encounter and which may cause your symptoms to flare up.
A radiosurgery technique such as the Gamma Knife or the linear accelerator can be used to reduce a tumour or control its growth as an alternative to conventional surgical techniques.
In some cases, radiation therapy is the preferable treatment option for elderly or ill patients and patients with bilateral acoustic neuroma (a tumour that affects both ears) or for people whose tumour affects only one of their hearing ears.
Recurrent MRI scans to monitor tumour progression may be beneficial in some circumstances, particularly in elderly patients or those in poor health.
