Acoutic neuromas operated at UMMC from 2001 to 2006 were retrospectively reviewed. There were a total of 27 cases. All tumors were large, measuring more than 2 cm. Hearing loss was the most common presenting symptom (63%), followed by headache (52%), dysequilibrium (30%), facial numbness (30%), tinnitus (26%) and gait disturbances (15%). Eleven (41%) of patients had hydrocephalus at the time of presentation, for which a shunt procedure was required. The translabrynthine (TL) approach was used for 12 patients and the retrosigmoid (RS) with or without presigmoid clearance for the remaining 15. Major complications included one mortality and three cerebrovascular accidents (CVA's). The one-year facial nerve outcome was good to acceptable in 62% (House-Brackmann Grade I - IV) of patients. A literature review of current management of acoustic neuromas is presented.
A retrospective analysis of 15 cases intracanalicular acoustic neuroma that undergone tumour excision by translabyrinthine approach spanning from August 1996 until December 2002 is presented. The main presenting complaints are unilateral hearing loss (100%) and tinnitus (86.7%). The mean age of presentation was 48.5 years old. Magnetic resonance imaging is the most important investigation tool to diagnose acoustic neuroma. At six months post operatively, the facial nerve was normal or near normal (grade I and II) in 46.6%, grade III to IV in 46.6% and grade V to VI in 6.7% of the cases respectively. There were also four cases of post operative cerebrospinal fluid leak, which was successfully managed with conservative measures. The translabyrinthine approach is the most familiar surgical technique employed by otologist. It is the most direct route to the cerebellopontine angle and internal auditory canal. It requires minimum cerebellar retraction. However, it sacrifices any residual hearing in the operated ear.
The general consensus on the roles of hearing loss in triggering tinnitus seems not applicable in patients with normal hearing thresholds. The absence of hearing loss on the audiogram in this group of patients poses a serious challenge to the cochlear theories in explaining tinnitus generation in this group of patients.