TREATMENT OF AN ACOUSTIC NEUROMA IN AN ONLY-HEARING EAR - CASE-REPORTS AND CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE FUTURE

Current options regarding the treatment of acoustic neuroma in an only -hearing ear include: observation, attempted hearing preservation surg ery, and stereotactically guided radiation therapy. A patient who had a left labyrinthectomy for Meniere's disease presented 15 years later with a large right acoustic neuroma. Due to anticipated profound deafn ess, he fit the criteria for cochlear implantation. Promontory stimula tion of the left ear was positive. He underwent successful left cochle ar implantation with the Nucleus(R) 22-channel device and was successf ully rehabilitated. He then underwent translabyrinthine removal of his right-sided 2.5-cm acoustic neuroma. This case is used to illustrate a new option available to those faced with treating a patient with aco ustic neuroma in an only-hearing ear. How this approach may fit in wit h other available options will be discussed.