Treatment
Treatment options will depend on the
age and general health of the person,
as well as the size of the acoustic
neuroma and how fast it is growing.
If the growth is very small and growing
very slowly, a ‘wait and see’ approach
may be taken. Since
acoustic neuromas produce symptoms
by putting pressure on surrounding
nerves, regular observation and MRI
scanning will help to monitor the
symptoms and growth rate.
Treatment
for an acoustic neuroma usually involves
the removal of the growth by surgery.
Many of the symptoms disappear after
the growth has been removed, especially
if it was small.
If
the growth is large, then it may have
caused more damage and this sometimes
results in some loss of hearing in
the affected ear. Sometimes
damage to the facial nerve can lead
to permanent facial numbness.
Some
specialists may suggest radiation
treatment for those patients unwilling
or unable to undergo surgery.
This halts the growth of the acoustic
neuroma, usually resulting in shrinkage
of the growth with time.
Even
when a growth has been removed, there
is a very small chance of recurrence.
Therefore, follow-up MRI scans should
be performed regularly.
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Acoustic Neuroma 
