[Clinical aspects and diagnosis of acoustic neurinomas]

The application of microsurgical techniques for the removal of acoustic neuromas has evidenced greatly improved postoperative results. Therefore the early detection of an acoustic neuroma is a special need for every neurologist. The development of new electrophysiological and radiological procedures now allows a far better approach in the diagnosis of acoustic neuromas. Brain stem auditory evoked potentials as well as acoustic reflex testing have shown to be rather sensitive tools in the diagnosis of retrocochlear pathology. Other electrophysiological procedures have been widely replaced by these techniques. Gasmeatocisternography in combination with cranial computed tomography is the method of choice in the detection of small acoustic neuromas. The current status in the application of different techniques for the diagnosis of acoustic neuromas is reviewed.