J Neurol Surg B Skull Base 2016; 77 - D-01-02
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1592635

The Role of Early Surgery in Small Acoustic Neurinomas

Rudolf Hagen 1
  • 1Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals, Nasen, Ohrenkrankheiten, plastische und ästhetische Operationen, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg

Looking to the long-term functional results of the wait-and-scan strategy (WSS) in vestibular schwannomas, we advise an early surgical intervention using the midfossa approach and neuromonitoring in nearly all cases of T1 and T2 tumors with normal or slightly impaired hearing. This is based on the rationale that any kind of hearing deterioration that has to be expected in the long-term following WSS is irreversible. If hearing is already gone, the WSS is an option, as the facial nerve can be safely preserved even in growing tumors.