Neurinoma del acústico: diagnóstico y tratamiento

Abstract

Acoustic neuroma is a common vestibular portion tumor of the eighth cranial nerve that manifests as a peripheral retro-labyrinthine vestibular syndrome. In most cases, tumors present unilaterally. Large tumors may cause trigeminal and facial neuropathies, brainstem compression, intracranial hypertension, and hydrocephalus. Diagnosis is usually made in the mid-third decade of life. The main symptom is hearing loss. Thanks to the widespread availability of MRI, vestibular schwannomas are increasingly diagnosed at an early stage. Basically, the first thing that is suggested is follow-up imaging. If already diagnosed, the prime treatment option is observation; in case of documented enlargement, surgery, radiosurgery, radiotherapy, supportive care, and even systemic drugs can be used in case of NF2-associated neurinoma.