How big is big

[redday64]

Hi Sorry if this is a silly question but what is considered a large AN ? Thank you

[colbe]

Acoustic neuromas are classified according to their size as small (less than 1.5 cm), medium (1.5 to 2.5 cm), or large (more than 2.5 cm). But it can also depend on your size. I am a small woman so my 23mm AN was classed as large.

[redday64 in reply to colbe]

Thank you

[drdeanbellavia]

redday64:

As far as I am concerned, the most important thing about size is whether the AN can be killed using stereotactic radiosurgery (gamma-knife, etc.) or whether it needs to be removed via invasive surgery.

Gamma-knife removal is quick and painless (except for the head brace) and recovery time is immediate. I had a 15mm AN removed in the morning in 20 minutes of radiation time and was changing tires on my wife's truck that afternoon. Invasive surgery requires many, many hours and months of recovery and dysfunction.

Bottom line, if you have an AN (probably less than 20mm), have it killed ASAP using stereotactic radiosurgery, before you need invasive surgery to remove it.

Dean

[redday64 in reply to drdeanbellavia]

Thank you