Treatments

Acoustic Neuroma Treatments

Because acoustic neuromas, also called vestibular schwannomas, are complex, Northwestern Medicine offers a multi-disciplinary, team-based approach to care. The team typically includes a neurosurgeon and a neuro-otologist (ENT), and may include a vestibular neurologist. When radiation treatment is indicated, a radiation oncologist will be part of your treatment team. Our specialists work together to give you a comprehensive assessment. Then, they will tailor a treatment plan for your specific needs.

Acoustic neuroma treatment aims to maintain your facial nerve function and preserving as much hearing and balance function as possible. Your treatment will depend on your age, health and tolerance for various treatments.

If the neuroma is small, slow-growing and not causing symptoms, your physician may not recommend treatment, and your tumor will be monitored for growth with MRI scans.

If you need treatment, your care team may recommend the following:

• Surgery/craniotomy: Your surgeon may remove all or part of the acoustic neuroma. They will use a microscope to remove it through the bone around the inner ear (trans-labyrinthine or middle fossa approach) or through a small opening in your skull (retrosigmoid approach). Surgery carries risk of complications, which your doctor will discuss with you.
• Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS): This technique delivers a single dose of radiation to a specific target with high precision. It minimizes damage to nearby tissue, discomfort and the risk of bleeding and infection that come with open surgery. Radiosurgery can stop tumors from growing. The most commonly used type of radiosurgery is Gamma Knife^® radiosurgery.
• Stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT): Delivers ultra-focused radiation to just the tumor. SRT controls the growth of a tumor or abnormal cells by killing the cells or by disrupting their ability to grow.
• Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy delivers a low dose of radiation over many treatments, typically 6 weeks, and can be used to treat acoustic neuromas, but is less common.