Surgical treatment of acoustic neuroma: Outcomes and indications

Abstract

Aim

Surgery for acoustic neuroma has developed over the years with a gradual improvement in outcome. The goal of surgery should be cure of the disease and a low morbidity, preserving facial nerve function – and hearing, too, whenever feasible (i.e. in small tumors). The most appropriate approach must be decided case by case.

Background

Results of microsurgery remain heterogeneous, however, probably due to the different amount of experience gained at different centers.

Materials and Methods

Surgical series reported in the recent literature (2012–2015) were critically reviewed, along with some older papers with particularly representative series.

Results and conclusion

Considering patients’ age, surgical morbidity of different approaches, tumor size and hearing, some principles can be identified on which to base surgical indications with a view to achieving the goals of curing the disease with a low morbidity, preserving facial nerve function and hearing, too, whenever feasible (i.e. in patients with small tumors). Different therapeutic approaches are discussed.