Treatment for Acoustic neuroma can be broadly classified into three categories Observation, Radiation, and Surgery. Most acoustic neuromas do not grow. Surgical removal of tumor is adopted if tumor continues to grow and affect normal brain functions.
Treatments and Medications for Acoustic Neuroma
New York (USA), June 19, 2013
Treatments Options for Acoustic Neuroma
Treatment for Acoustic neuroma can be broadly classified into three categories:
1. Observation
2. Radiation
3. Surgery
1. Observation
Most acoustic neuromas do not grow or grow very slowly. Very few neuromas grow fast into big tumors or continue growing. Very slow growing tumors can be screened regularly and monitored accordingly with the help of MRI scans and other tests. You go for regular checkups and tests once in every six or twelve months. Observation is adopted as a better treatment option in cases of elderly people and in those with serious medical conditions.
2. Radiation
This is same as Stereotactic Radio Surgery. Doctors use radiation therapy precisely on the tumor without making any incision. Doctors numb your scalp and attach a head frame to scalp. Thereafter doctor uses imaging scans to locate correct location of tumor. Radiation beams are applied at this perfect point to dissolve tumor. This therapy restricts tumor growth considerably.
Common risks of radio surgery include facial weakness, hearing loss, and balance problems. Radio surgery does not deliver immediate results. Doctors adopt hearing tests and imaging scans to monitor your progress.
3. Surgery
Surgical removal of tumor is adopted if tumor continues to grow and affect normal brain functions. Surgery cannot bring back hearing loss already affected by tumor. Sometimes tumor causes facial paralysis. Surgery cannot revert the situation, yet, it can minimize the extent of disability and paralysis.
Surgery for acoustic neuroma is done under normal anesthesia. An incision in the skull is done and tumor is removed through this incision or through the inner ear. You remain in hospital for around a week after surgery. Complete recovery could take more than six weeks.
Surgery for acoustic neuroma often causes additional complications. Sometimes few cranial nerves are affected during surgery leading to worsening of symptoms like hearing problems, facial weakness, headache, balance problems, and tinnitus. Even after surgery, it is possible for tumor to start growing again while sometimes it does not grow any further.
Medications for Acoustic Neuroma
Regular MRI scans and tests are important to check on tumor development irrespective of treatment option adopted.
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