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How Do You Stop Acoustic Neuroma From Spreading?

Acoustic neuroma is a non-cancerous tumor that occurs by pressing the eighth cranial nerve and inhibits the vital functions and its ability to send instructions to the brain. This eventually is responsible for passing communication to the inner and outer ear. Since this disorder is malignant it does not spread to other parts of the body. However, when left untreated, it can be serious causing severe complications.

The treatment for your acoustic neuroma typically varies, depending on its size and growth of the tumor, your overall health conditions, and the symptoms you tend to experience. Treatment is often based on stage; therefore, it requires some careful monitoring. Monitoring is more vital to determine the growth and how rapid they are progressing. This is often done through imaging and audiometry

How Do You Stop Acoustic Neuroma From Spreading?

How Do You Stop Acoustic Neuroma From Spreading?

Most cases of Acoustic Neuroma may result due to environmental factors and faulty gene due to inheritance called neurofibromatosis type 2. Treatment of this condition depends on the following factors such as:

  • Age factor
  • The overall health of the individual
  • Location of the tumor and its size.

There are few main courses of treatment for acoustic neuroma majorly the observation, surgery and radiation therapy. For both surgery and radiotherapy approaches to acoustic neuroma treatment, the primary complication in the treatment of this condition is perhaps to avoid impacting the most sensitive nerves and for the preservation of the facial nerve, preservation of hearing and control of the tumor.1

Surgery- Doctors may recommend surgery when they want to remove the tumor completely. This is one of the most effective options for larger tumors that is causing serious problems with balancing and facial complications. However, in some cases, the entire tumor cannot be removed. But the surgical procedure in combination with the skills of the experienced surgeons predict what lies ahead, and avoid damaging vital structures, and assure complete tumor removal.

Suboccipital Craniotomy- A suboccipital craniotomy is a surgical procedure performed to remove an acoustic neuroma growing from the nerve responsible for balance and hearing. This is one of the most frequent procedures used to remove the tumor. It removes a portion of the occipital bone behind the ear to remove the tumor. This phenomenon is often conducted on patients who are suspected of medium or large acoustic neuroma. These patients frequently encounter problems with their balance. Moreover, it is most effective in patients who developed this condition due to genetic mutations.2. 3

Stereotactic Radiosurgery- This type of surgery is very effective in stopping the growth of acoustic neuroma. Stereotactic radiosurgery involves the use of energy beams or radiation to kill the cancerous cells. Although this treatment does not implicate in the removal of tumor yet it disables the condition. Therefore over a period of time, the tumor shrinks and completely dissolves.

Stereotactic surgery is the most preferred option for small tumors and even when a conventional surgery does not yield the desired results. This approach causes lessened damage hearing or facial function than surgery.4

Acoustic Neuroma – Post Surgery

Many trials were conducted to determine the outcome of acoustic neuroma treatment using conventional medical treatments. Basically, the surgery to remove acoustic neuroma is very complicated and sensitive. A smaller tumor delivers fewer complications when compared to the larger tumors.

Also, the location of the tumor increases the delicateness of the surgery. A total of 130 acoustic neuroma patients post operations were surveyed over a period of 6 months. The outcome showed that they had a problem in hearing which was sorted out through hearing aid and assistive aids, headaches and they had pain in the facial muscles. 5

References:

  1. Observation and treatment of acoustic neuroma https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2735705/
  2. Avoid spreading of acoustic neuroma through surgery https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/otolaryngology/specialty_areas/otology/conditions/acoustic-neuroma/treatment.html
  3. Acoustic Neuroma – Treatment and Surgery https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/acoustic-neuroma/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20356132
  4. Stereotactic radiosurgery for acoustic neuroma https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5675503/
  5. Acoustic neuroma surgery: outcome analysis of patient-perceived disability https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9233481

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Team PainAssist
Team PainAssist
Written, Edited or Reviewed By: Team PainAssist, Pain Assist Inc. This article does not provide medical advice. See disclaimer
Last Modified On:January 3, 2022

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