Hearing preservation after resection of acoustic neuroma: a review

The recent literature addressing the problem of hearing loss after acoustic neuroma surgery is reviewed, and efforts to prevent such loss are discussed. Patient selection for hearing preservation, tumor size, surgical approaches employed, the use of intraoperative evoked potential monitoring, and histologic considerations are discussed. From this discussion, the author concludes that careful selection of patients for appropriate surgical approaches with direct eighth nerve monitoring provides the optimal chance for hearing preservation in patients with acoustic neuromas.