The risk of hearing loss in nongrowing, conservatively managed acoustic neuromas
Warrick, P.; Bance, M.; Rutka, J.
American Journal of Otology 20(6): 758-762
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0192-9763 PMID: 10565721 Document Number: 498031
Objective: To determine the risk of loss of useful hearing in the absence of tumor growth among patients undergoing conventional management of acoustic neuroma. Setting: Tertiary referral center. Study Design: Retrospective case review. Patients: Ten patients (12 ears) were identified having a period of no tumor growth of at least 6 months (19.0 +- 12.8 months), and for whom at least two audiograms were available in this period. Interventions: None. Main Outcome Measures: Loss of useful hearing defined using 70% speech discrimination score (SDS) and 30 dB pure tone average (PTA) (70/30), or 50% SD and 50 dB PTA (50/50) criteria. Results: Three of seven (43%) ears with useful hearing using the 70/30 rule and two of eight ears (25%) using the 50/50 rule lost this useful hearing. Conclusions: There is a significant risk of useful hearing loss with conservative management of nongrowing acoustic neuromas.