Acoustic Neuroma

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Introduction: What is Acoustic Neuroma? Causes of Acoustic Neuroma.

Acoustic Neuroma is a noncancerous tumor (benign)  of the eighth cranial (vestibulocochlear) NERVE which is one of the ten nerves connected directly with brain. As such it is one of the very slow growing tumor and some times acoustic neuromas typically grow over years to decades and in some people cause no symptoms. Majority of times doctors incidently diagnose them during routine examination.

In general Acoustic neuroma is benign one and usually does not spread very fast and hence it is very rare that it becomes so huge that starts to put pressure on the structures of the brainstem. Most often doctors do not know why acoustic neuromas develop and classify them as idiopathic (of unknown cause). Acoustic neuromas sometimes occur with neurofibromatosis type 2, a rare hereditary disorder in which fibrous growths develop in the CRANIAL NERVES and SPINAL NERVES.