What is surgery like for an acoustic neuroma?

What is surgery like for an acoustic neuroma?

There are three surgical options for removing an acoustic neuroma. Sometimes, surgeons can remove the entire tumor. Other times, they may choose to leave a small portion of the tumor in order to preserve the function of the facial nerve.

Your surgical team will discuss which approach works best for your needs:

• Middle fossa approach (best for small tumors inside the bony ear canal): The surgeon accesses the inner ear through an incision on the side of the head. The surgeon then separates the tumor from the nerves and removes it. This approach may preserve your facial nerve and hearing nerve.
• Retrosigmoid approach (often used for medium to large tumors that press on the brain): The surgeon accesses the tumor through an incision behind the ear. Then the surgeon removes any part of the tumor in the cranial fossa (part of the skull) and inner ear canal. This approach may prevent facial paralysis. It might even preserve hearing.
• Translabyrinthine approach (used to remove tumors of all sizes): The surgeon makes an incision behind the ear, removing bones of the inner ear for a better view of the tumor. The surgeon removes the tumor. This surgery results in total hearing loss on the side of the surgery. Surgeons typically use it only if you have already lost hearing on that side. This approach has excellent outcomes in preserving the facial nerve.