Acoustic neuroma treatments

[FatBenny]

Does acoustic neuroma always require surgery?

[MichiganPhil]

No, there’s a wait and observe procedure. Depending on size and location of AN that might be best way to go.

[Rupert25 in reply to MichiganPhil]

Hi - I had fractionated radiotherapy in July/August 2019 - 6 weeks daily. The tumour has still not ‘settled down’ from an increase in size by 1cm as a reaction. The neurosurgeons think it has swollen due to being cystic and taking on fluids rather than the actual tumour growing. I am keeping my fingers crossed for the next MRI in March.

[FERNBROOK]

Apparently not. I'm recently diagnosed with a meduim AN. Probably like most, I raided every site for information and ended up with an overload of fairly depressing experiences. All very depressing until I had a call from my MDT Specialist Nurse who put the whole thing into perpective. Many diagnosed with AN have no intervention other than 'watch and wait' which may well go on for years. I was told if there is minimal growth after 10 years I'm discharged from the care of the Team. The side effects you just learn to live with and adjust to. I am having hearing aids for instance but nothing will ever really help the relentless tinnitus or the beginnings of balance issues. On the positive side Living well with this condition is entirely possible without intervention of any kind if the AN doesn't grow to cause worry.. and many don't. I would strongly recommend newly diagosed AN's to touch base with a contact from their MDT team usually the Skull Base Specialist Nurse who will give all the correct info and will bring some pragmatism to all the worry.

[Kkk7 in reply to FERNBROOK]

Hello can I ask you what is the size of your AN and how frequent you have to do MRI and do you have pain in head AN side