[Acoustic neurinomas in Denmark. Incidence and therapeutic strategies]

The annual incidence of diagnosed acoustic neurinomas in Denmark during two 7-year-periods from mid 1976 to mid 1990 is compared. Data on all patients operated via the translabyrinthine, transtemporal and suboccipital approach, as well as data on non-operated patients, was collected from the entire country. During the first period, from June 1976 to June 1983, the incidence was 7.8 tumors per million per year. During the second period, from June 1983 to June 1990, the annual incidence rose to 9.4 tumors per million per year. The number of newly-diagnosed small tumors increased, and that of large tumors decreased. A significant increase was observed in Copenhagen. An incidence of 11 to 12 tumors per million per year, or nearly 60 newly-diagnosed tumors per year is thus expected around the year 2000. This limited number supports the continuation of the present centralized model of acoustic neurinoma surgery in Denmark.