Improvement of hearing after microsurgical removal of acoustic neurinoma

A case of a 3-cm acoustic neurinoma totally excised with preservation of the facial and cochlear nerves is reported. Hearing was not impaired by the operation, but dramatically improved within 2 months. The literature on operations of acoustic tumors with preservation of hearing is reviewed. In patients with some hearing ability, the operation should be conservative, whatever the size of the neurinoma, because there is a fair chance of success.