Acoustic brain stem response in diagnosis of acoustic neuroma

The aim of the present investigation is to throw light upon the following question: Is recording of click-evoked brain stem responses (ABR) a more sensitive and reliable test than the oto-neurological and conventional audiological tests in selecting patients for computerized tomography (CT)? Thirty-three patients were examined. They all presented case histories and otoneurological findings indicating a tumor in te cerebellopontine angle. In all cases CT was carried out. A tumor was found in 16 patients, normal findings in 17. The results obtained by audiological and oto-neurological tests were compared to those obtained by ABR recording. It is concluded that recording of ABR and the caloric vestibular test are the most reliable examinations in selecting patients for CT. These examinations alone, are, however, not sufficient to secure a completely reliable selection, and should be supplemented by other audiological tests.