An acoustic neuroma, or vestibular schwannoma, is a rare benign brain tumor affecting the balance and hearing nerves diagnosed by CAT scans and MRIs, as well as early signs and symptoms, some of which can be permanent; however the cause is unknown.
I chose to do my science fair project on Acoustic Neuromas because my mom was diagnosed with this tumor about a yar and a half ago. She went through the treatment process and learned that her tumor has stopped growing, which is good. However, she still suffers from many of the symptoms and side effects. I wanted to learn more about this tumor so that I could understand better what she is going through.
The cause of acoustic neuromas is unknown. However, doctors are investigating what it is caused by. In some cases, the tumor appears to be caused by a malfunctioning gene on chromosome 22. This gene usually produces a protein that helps control the growth of Schwann cells covering the nerves. However, scientists do not know what causes this gene to malfunction.
Acoustic neuromas cause various symptoms. For most victims, symptoms of the new growing tumor start after the age of 30. Common symptoms include hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), vertigo (dizziness), loss of balance, facial numbness and weakness (hemi facial spasms), severe headaches, and taste changes (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, “Acoustic Neuroma”). These symptoms are usually caused by the tumor itself, however, the swelling from radiation and gamma knife treatment can cause these symptoms as well. Many symptoms, such as ear, balance, and facial problems are caused by the pressure of the tumor on the person’s balance, facial, and hearing nerves. Signs and symptoms usually occur before diagnosis and/or during/after radiation treatment. Tinnitus will continue throughout the victim’s life even after treatment, as well as hearing loss, and in some occasions, headaches.
Acoustic neuromas are diagnosed by doctors and neurosurgeons that treat tumors of this kind. The diagnosis is usually based on early signs and symptoms. It can also be identified with the help of CAT scans and MRIs (Wrong Diagnosis, “Diagnosis of Acoustic Neuroma”). Although the tumor is slow growing, it could grow large enough to become life threatening if it is not identified soon enough or treated properly. Tumors are typically described as small (less than 1.5 cm), medium (1.5 cm to 2.5 cm) or large (more than 2.5 cm). Larger tumors affect and press on more nerves because of their size. Therefore, patients with larger tumors often experience more side effects than those with smaller tumors. The diagnosis is usually made sometime after signs and symptoms, most likely headaches and hearing loss, develop. This is typically made at hospitals and centers, more commonly those specializing in brain tumors.
Acoustic neuromas are treated by neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists, and otolaryngologists. ‘Treatment options include gamma ray knife, Microsurgical Removal of tumor (surgery), and Radiation: (“radiosurgery” or “radiotherapy”)’ (Acoustic Neuroma Association, “Treatment Options”). Temporary treatment/ pain relieving options include monitoring, rest and ice, anti-inflammatory medications, and orthotics (Demand Media Inc., “What Are the Treatments for Neuroma”). Even though acoustic neuroma is a slow growing tumor compared to other tumors, it needs to be treated because it could be life threatening and cause a significant rise in side effects if it grows too big. Treatment is carried out after early signs and/ or side effects and diagnosis. It is treated typically at specializing hospitals and/or centers.
Radiation and/or use of the gamma knife to remove the tumor involves precise measurements of the location and size of the tumor with computerized mapping in order to precisely guide the radiation beams and the gamma knife. Surgery to remove acoustic neuroma involves preforming an incision in the skull, and physical removal of the tumor.
The prognosis for someone with a unilateral acoustic neuroma is usually quite good provided the tumor is diagnosed early and appropriate treatment is instituted. In spite of the fact that an acoustic neuroma is a benign tumor, it can still be fatal if left untreated. As these tumors continue to grow they run out of space inside the small canal that links the inner ear to the brain, and begin to grow into the skull cavity and compress the brain tissue, including the brain stem which has vital functions such as regulating heart rate, breathing and blood pressure. The prognosis can be poorer for those with NF-2 (neurofibromatosis) who have an increased risk of bilateral acoustic neuromas and other tumors (Skull Base Institute, “Prognosis”).
Acoustic neuromas have many temporary and permanent effects on their victims’ lives. This tumor begins to affect the lives of people at its onset and continues to grow/worsen throughout your life. Some long lasting effects on life include permanent symptoms, ongoing headaches and side effects, and also unilateral hearing loss. Victims can also receive negative impact from the treatment process they go through. Some people also seek physical therapy to help with residual dizziness and vertigo, which can cause nausea and vomiting. The hope of the physical therapy is to help victims maintain balance. In most cases, the dizziness and vertigo resolve and do not remain continual as do long lasting symptoms. You are not vulnerable to any other known conditions after having or being treated for an acoustic neuroma. However, some victims have had severe ongoing headaches that had greatly affected their daily activities.
Persons with acoustic neuroma may experience hearing loss, imbalance, and facial weakness. Those with extremely large tumors may also have other neurological problems. Many persons with acoustic neuromas will eventually need brain surgery to remove the tumor. Those who opt not to have surgery will likely need to have periodic imaging studies to determine if it is still safe to leave the tumor without treatment (American Hearing Research Foundation, “How Might Acoustic Neuroma Affect My Life.”). Having so many upsetting side effects, symptoms, and a brain tumor can make people sad, upset, angry, and even depressed. These challenges greatly affect a person’s everyday life.
I chose to do my science fair project on Acoustic Neuromas because my mom was diagnosed with this tumor about a yar and a half ago. She went through the treatment process and learned that her tumor has stopped growing, which is good. However, she still suffers from many of the symptoms and side effects. I wanted to learn more about this tumor so that I could understand better what she is going through.
The cause of acoustic neuromas is unknown. However, doctors are investigating what it is caused by. In some cases, the tumor appears to be caused by a malfunctioning gene on chromosome 22. This gene usually produces a protein that helps control the growth of Schwann cells covering the nerves. However, scientists do not know what causes this gene to malfunction.
Acoustic neuromas cause various symptoms. For most victims, symptoms of the new growing tumor start after the age of 30. Common symptoms include hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), vertigo (dizziness), loss of balance, facial numbness and weakness (hemi facial spasms), severe headaches, and taste changes (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, “Acoustic Neuroma”). These symptoms are usually caused by the tumor itself, however, the swelling from radiation and gamma knife treatment can cause these symptoms as well. Many symptoms, such as ear, balance, and facial problems are caused by the pressure of the tumor on the person’s balance, facial, and hearing nerves. Signs and symptoms usually occur before diagnosis and/or during/after radiation treatment. Tinnitus will continue throughout the victim’s life even after treatment, as well as hearing loss, and in some occasions, headaches.
Acoustic neuromas are diagnosed by doctors and neurosurgeons that treat tumors of this kind. The diagnosis is usually based on early signs and symptoms. It can also be identified with the help of CAT scans and MRIs (Wrong Diagnosis, “Diagnosis of Acoustic Neuroma”). Although the tumor is slow growing, it could grow large enough to become life threatening if it is not identified soon enough or treated properly. Tumors are typically described as small (less than 1.5 cm), medium (1.5 cm to 2.5 cm) or large (more than 2.5 cm). Larger tumors affect and press on more nerves because of their size. Therefore, patients with larger tumors often experience more side effects than those with smaller tumors. The diagnosis is usually made sometime after signs and symptoms, most likely headaches and hearing loss, develop. This is typically made at hospitals and centers, more commonly those specializing in brain tumors.
Acoustic neuromas are treated by neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists, and otolaryngologists. ‘Treatment options include gamma ray knife, Microsurgical Removal of tumor (surgery), and Radiation: (“radiosurgery” or “radiotherapy”)’ (Acoustic Neuroma Association, “Treatment Options”). Temporary treatment/ pain relieving options include monitoring, rest and ice, anti-inflammatory medications, and orthotics (Demand Media Inc., “What Are the Treatments for Neuroma”). Even though acoustic neuroma is a slow growing tumor compared to other tumors, it needs to be treated because it could be life threatening and cause a significant rise in side effects if it grows too big. Treatment is carried out after early signs and/ or side effects and diagnosis. It is treated typically at specializing hospitals and/or centers.
Radiation and/or use of the gamma knife to remove the tumor involves precise measurements of the location and size of the tumor with computerized mapping in order to precisely guide the radiation beams and the gamma knife. Surgery to remove acoustic neuroma involves preforming an incision in the skull, and physical removal of the tumor.
The prognosis for someone with a unilateral acoustic neuroma is usually quite good provided the tumor is diagnosed early and appropriate treatment is instituted. In spite of the fact that an acoustic neuroma is a benign tumor, it can still be fatal if left untreated. As these tumors continue to grow they run out of space inside the small canal that links the inner ear to the brain, and begin to grow into the skull cavity and compress the brain tissue, including the brain stem which has vital functions such as regulating heart rate, breathing and blood pressure. The prognosis can be poorer for those with NF-2 (neurofibromatosis) who have an increased risk of bilateral acoustic neuromas and other tumors (Skull Base Institute, “Prognosis”).
Acoustic neuromas have many temporary and permanent effects on their victims’ lives. This tumor begins to affect the lives of people at its onset and continues to grow/worsen throughout your life. Some long lasting effects on life include permanent symptoms, ongoing headaches and side effects, and also unilateral hearing loss. Victims can also receive negative impact from the treatment process they go through. Some people also seek physical therapy to help with residual dizziness and vertigo, which can cause nausea and vomiting. The hope of the physical therapy is to help victims maintain balance. In most cases, the dizziness and vertigo resolve and do not remain continual as do long lasting symptoms. You are not vulnerable to any other known conditions after having or being treated for an acoustic neuroma. However, some victims have had severe ongoing headaches that had greatly affected their daily activities.
Persons with acoustic neuroma may experience hearing loss, imbalance, and facial weakness. Those with extremely large tumors may also have other neurological problems. Many persons with acoustic neuromas will eventually need brain surgery to remove the tumor. Those who opt not to have surgery will likely need to have periodic imaging studies to determine if it is still safe to leave the tumor without treatment (American Hearing Research Foundation, “How Might Acoustic Neuroma Affect My Life.”). Having so many upsetting side effects, symptoms, and a brain tumor can make people sad, upset, angry, and even depressed. These challenges greatly affect a person’s everyday life.