[Neurinomas of the cochlear nerve]

Usually, schwannomas of the eight nerve arise from the vestibular nerve. Yet, the authors have operated from September 1993 to September 1995 three neuromas whose origin is certainly the cochlear nerve. Surgery was performed by retro-sigmoid approach magnified by endoscopic procedure of the cerebello-pontine angle before and after removing the tumor. We report here the cases and the literature is documented. Similar cases of observing cochlear neuromas at the moment of the procedure are exceptional. Because of more and more early diagnosis of these tumors, advances of microsurgery in ponto-cerebellar angle and endoscopic improvements in this area, observation of this kind of pathology could be more and more frequent.