Effects of dexamethasone treatment on acoustic neuromas: evaluation by computed tomography

Five patients with unilateral acoustic neuromas were studied with CT before and after treatment with dexamethasone. Rather small effects, in the order of 10-20%, were observed on the parameters evaluated, including the size of the tumor, size of the peritumoral edema, and the contrast enhancement. Hence, the acoustic neuromas, which ultrastructurally and with their extraaxial location bear great resemblances to meningiomas, also show a similarity in their minimal response to steroid treatment.