Middle fossa decompression of the internal auditory canal in acoustic neuroma surgery: a therapeutic alternative

Unilateral acoustic neuromas in only-hearing ears and bilateral acoustic neuromas (NF-2) are separate entities, but both pose a common problem because surgical removal has the potential to leave the patient totally deafened. A middle fossa decompression of the internal auditory canal (IAC) was perfo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Laryngoscope Vol. 100; no. 9; p. 948
Main Authors Gadre, A K, Kwartler, J A, Brackmann, D E, House, W F, Hitselberger, W E
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.09.1990
Subjects
Adult
Child
Female
Humans
Male
Methods
Middle Aged
Neuroma, Acoustic - physiopathology
Neuroma, Acoustic - surgery
Retrospective Studies
Speech Discrimination Tests
Speech Reception Threshold Test
Temporal Bone - surgery
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Summary:Unilateral acoustic neuromas in only-hearing ears and bilateral acoustic neuromas (NF-2) are separate entities, but both pose a common problem because surgical removal has the potential to leave the patient totally deafened. A middle fossa decompression of the internal auditory canal (IAC) was performed in 8 patients (5 with NF-2 tumors and 3 with neuromas in an only-hearing ear). In 5 of the 8, the speech discrimination scores at the 6-month follow-up were better than preoperative scores. After 6 months, however, hearing regressed at variable rates. Although not a definitive therapeutic treatment, decompression of the IAC appears to improve and perhaps prolong useful hearing, which gains valuable time for rehabilitation. Rigid follow-up by computed tomography scans or magnetic resonance imaging is essential.
ISSN:0023-852X
1531-4995
DOI:10.1288/00005537-199009000-00007