Posterior cranial fossa meningiomas are relatively common extra-axial
tumors with important relationships to the cochleovestibular system fa
cial nerve, and/or cranial base. Nevertheless, objective reporting of
auditory and vestibular function is rare for this patient population,
and a full discussion of the nonsurgical management is all but totally
discounted in the otolaryngology literature. Nine cases (8 operative
cases) are presented, with the purpose of correlating neurotologic fun
ction with precise anatomic tumor location, available by magnetic reso
nance imaging and computed tomography. The usefulness of this informat
ion for diagnosis and meaningful scrutiny of the operative results is
discussed. A comprehensive review of posterior fossa meningiomas in te
rms of epidemiology, etiology, and pathology, as well as nonsurgical t
reatment alternatives, is provided.