Vestibular Schwannoma: Causes, Symptoms, Daignosis, Prevention and Treatment

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Vestibular Schwannoma
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Vestibular Schwannoma

• A vestibular schwannoma (acoustic neuroma), is a
  non-cancerous (benign) tumor that develops along
  the main balance and hearing nerve leading from
  your inner ear to your brain.When the tumor
  puts pressure on the nerve, a person can
  experience hearing loss, dizziness, loss of
  balance and ringing in the ear (tinnitus).As
  the tumor grows, it can also put pressure on the
  nerves affecting sensations and muscle movement
  in the face.Gamma knife surgery may stop the
  growth or minimize the size of a vestibular
  schwannoma with little risk of permanent nerve
  damage.

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What are the causes of Vestibular Schwannoma?

• A malfunction in a gene on chromosome 22 has
  been found to cause vestibular schwannomas. This
  gene generally makes a protein that controls the
  growth of Schwann cells covering the nerve. Some
  of the risk factors make it more prone that
  people can develop a vestibular schwannoma
• People with a genetic syndrome called
  neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF 2) are more likely
  to develop schwannomas.
• NF 2 patients will often develop vestibular
  schwannoma on both sides, or on other nerves.
• Prolonged exposure to loud noise
• Prior radiation therapy to the head and neck area
  during childhood

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What are the symptoms of Vestibular Schwannoma?

• Symptoms generally arise as the schwannoma grows
  large enough to put pressure on the nerves that
  control hearing, or the surrounding brain. The
  most common symptoms of vestibular schwannomas
  are
• Hearing loss - This usually happens slowly over
  years, so a patient may not even be aware of the
  hearing loss. This is most commonly just on one
  side.
• Tinnitus, a ringing sound in the affected ear
• Balance problems or a feeling of leaning to one
  side
• Numbness, pain or weakness of the facial muscles

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What are the treatment options for Vestibular
Schwannoma?

• There are many ways to treat vestibular
  schwannomas including observation, surgery or
  radiation therapy. The aim of treatment is lower
  down the symptoms, while preserving the function
  of the nerve.Usually, active treatment will be
  advised if the schwannoma is causing significant
  symptoms, or if it is found to be growing
  rapidly. Active treatment is more likely to be
  advised if the patient is young or the schwannoma
  is particularly large.

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What are the treatment options for Vestibular
Schwannoma?
Continue

• ObservationMost vestibular schwannomas are slow
  growing and may not cause a patient any
  significant problems over their lifetime.If the
  tumor is small, a wait and watch approach can
  be recommended with repeat imaging (usually MRI
  scans every 6 to 12 months) and hearing tests,
  rather than treating the schwannoma straight
  away.If during observation there is rapid
  growth, evidence of hearing loss or development
  of new symptoms, then active treatment should be
  considered.

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What are the treatment options for Vestibular
Schwannoma?
Continue

• SurgeryRemoving the schwannoma with surgery can
  stop symptoms getting any worse by relieving
  pressure on the nerve. This may involve accessing
  the tumor through the inner ear, or through an
  incision through the skull.If the schwannoma is
  completely removed it is very unlikely to grow
  back, however there is a risk of damaging nerves
  during surgery, which could cause further hearing
  loss or damage to the nerve controlling the
  facial muscles. Some patients may also experience
  headaches following surgery.If the tumor is
  located too close to important nerves or blood
  vessels it may not be able to be completely
  resected. If residual tumor is left behind, then
  this can re-grow following surgery in
  approximately 15 of patients.

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