Acoustic neuroma.

Abstract

The National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference on Acoustic Neuroma brought together neurosurgeons, radiosurgeons, otologists, neurologists, audiologists, otolaryngologists, and other health care professionals as well as the public to reach agreement (1) on defining the clinical types of acoustic neuroma, (2) on which procedures are useful for screening and diagnosis, (3) on the options available for managing the disorder as well as the complications of treatment, and (4) on the key clinical and biological areas for future research. Following 2 days of presentations by experts and discussion by the audience, a consensus panel weighed the evidence and prepared their consensus statement. Among their findings, the panel concluded that (1) the term vestibular schwannoma is preferred over acoustic neuroma as these tumors are composed of Schwann cells and typically involve the vestibular rather than the acoustic division of the 8th cranial nerve; (2) treatment for vestibular schwannoma must be individualized and requires an experienced, well-integrated, multidisciplinary team approach; (3) surgery remains the treatment of choice, but research is needed on the relative benefits and risks of all management options, including pharmaceutical and other alternative medical treatments such as tumor suppressing agents; (4) routine intraoperative monitoring of the facial nerve should be included in surgical therapy for vestibular schwannoma; (5) neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2) should be carefully considered in all patients newly diagnosed with vestibular schwannoma, and, when found, genetic evaluation and counseling should be provided for all relevant family members; and (6) a registry for all patients with vestibular schwannoma, whether undergoing observation or active management, should be established.