Does stereotactic radiosurgery treat acoustic neuroma?

An acoustic neuroma, also called a vestibular schwannoma, grows near the nerve involved in hearing and balance. Stereotactic radiosurgery uses imaging, a precise treatment plan, and focused radiation aimed at the tumour. Despite its name, it does not involve a surgical cut or removal of the tumour.

The purpose is usually long-term tumour control rather than immediate disappearance. Hearing, balance, facial-nerve function, tumour size, growth pattern, age, and overall health help the specialist team compare radiosurgery with monitoring or microsurgery.

Take recent hearing tests and brain scans to your appointment if available. Ask how the tumour’s position relates to the hearing and facial nerves, whether observation remains reasonable, and how follow-up scans will track its response. Tell the team about dizziness, facial sensations, hearing change, or balance problems.

Seek urgent help for sudden facial weakness, a sudden major change in hearing, severe new headache, repeated vomiting, confusion, or difficulty walking. Contact the treating team about gradually worsening balance, facial numbness, or hearing symptoms after treatment.

Ask what goal radiosurgery has in your case, how hearing and facial-nerve risks are managed, what follow-up schedule is expected, and what would lead to another treatment.