What is a Vestibular Schwannoma - Risks, Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment

An acoustic neuroma (vestibular schwannoma) is a benign tumor that develops from nerves which control body balance (vestibular) and hearing/ auditory (cochlear) nerves leading from your inner ear to the brain .The pressure on the nerve from the tumor may cause hearing loss and imbalance.

Common Symptoms of Disease are–

1. Tinnitus (Ringing sound in ears)
2. Hearing Loss
3. Deviation of face/paralysis of face
4. Weakness in hands & lower limbs
5. Difficulty in swallowing food
6. Headache
7. Vomiting
8. Double Vision

Risk Factors- The exact risk factors for the diseases are unknown however the disease can occur due to-

1. Genetic abnormalities, majorly associated with neurofisomatious type 2 (NF-2)
2. Exposure to any kind of Radiations

Age Group- Majorly affects the age group of 30-40

Treatment-Surgery is advised for the disease and other modalities include:-

1. Cyber Knife.
2. Gamma Knife with no role of chemotherapy at all