Acoustic Neuroma/Non Cancerous Ear Tumor: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention, Care, Outlook

Acoustic neuromas are noncancerous tumours. They grow on the nerve that connects the brain and ear. Since these tumours are benign, they don’t spread to other body parts. Still, they can grow large enough to damage important nerves.

According to the Acoustic Neuroma Association, acoustic neuromas appear in 1 out of every 50,000 people.

Who Is at Risk?

The only known risk factor for acoustic neuroma is having a parent with the genetic disorder neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2). Most of these tumours appear spontaneously. They occur in people with no family history of the disease.

Scientists still don’t understand why some people get these tumours. Some risk factors might include:

Loud noises

A parathyroid neuroma, which is a benign tumour of the thyroid

Exposure to low levels of radiation during childhood

Acoustic Neuroma Symptoms

Small neuromas rarely have symptoms. Symptoms typically appear only when the tumour gets large enough to press on surrounding nerves. One of the most common symptoms is a gradual loss of hearing on one side of the head. This hearing loss usually happens slowly over time, but it can also start very suddenly. Vertigo, or dizziness, and ringing in the ears are common. These tumours can also cause facial numbness, weakness, and problems with balance.

Some less common symptoms include:

Headache

Problems with vision

Difficulty understanding speech

Pain in the face or ear

Numbness in the face or ear

Fatigue

Diagnosis of Acoustic Neuroma

If you experience hearing loss or other neurologic symptoms, it is important to keep track of them. This can help your doctor diagnose your problem.

Your doctor will want a detailed history of your symptoms. If you have a neuroma, you’ll probably need a hearing test. You may need other tests as well:

Brain stem auditory evoked response tests can check both neurological and hearing function.

Electronystagmography detects changes in eye movement that maybe caused by inner ear problems.

MRIs and CT scans can give your doctor an image of the inside of your head.

Treatment of Acoustic Neuroma

Your age, general health, and tumour size will all affect your treatment.

Treatment isn’t always necessary. If you have a small acoustic neuroma, your doctor may just monitor its growth with regular MRIs. On the other hand, a lack of treatment can sometimes lead to a buildup of fluid within the brain. This life-threatening condition is called hydrocephalus.

If you have a relatively small tumour, your doctor may try to stop its growth. This is done with stereotactic radiosurgery. In this procedure, radiation is applied to a small, specific area of your head. It’s not invasive, but it’s very slow. It can take months or years to get rid of a tumour. For that reason, this procedure is usually only used for very small tumours. It can also be used when surgery is too risky or if residual tumours remain after surgery.

Surgery may be necessary if your tumour is very large or growing quickly. You may also need surgery if your tumour is starting to approach a vital part of the brain. During surgery, the tumour can be removed either through the skull or through the ear itself. Recovery time ranges from a few days to several weeks.

This surgery can have many complications and risks. These include:

Complete loss of hearing

Weakened facial muscles

Ringing in the ears

Cerebrospinal fluid leaking from the incision

Problems with balance

Persistent headaches

It’s important to talk to your doctor as soon as you start experiencing neuroma symptoms. That’s the only way to preserve your hearing. Once lost, hearing won’t return after treatment.

According to the Acoustic Neuroma Association, acoustic neuromas appear in one out of every 50,000 people.