[Acoustic neuroma in children. Report of 5 cases]

In this report, we present five cases of acoustic neuroma in children; one of them concern a case of neurofibromatosis 2. The most common symptom is a deafness, but it can also be revealed by a tinnitus, a vertigo, a facial nerve paralysis or headache. Diagnosis is confirmed by T1 and T2-weighted MRI with intravenous infusion of gadolinium. The deals of the treatment are tumor's control and preservation of the hearing and facial nerve functions. The means used are either microsurgery with a preference for posteriors approaches to translabyrinthic one, or radiosurgery with gamma knife which seems to be a promising technique for stades II and III tumors. Only children with small acoustic neuroma and good hearing can be simply watched. In neurofibromatosis 2, acoustic neuromas are bilateral and can be associated with other neuromas and cutaneous or ophtalmologic symptoms. Surgery is indicated in first on the side of the biggest tumor or the worst hearing function. Only a few patients well selected may benefit from an auditory brainstem implant.