One hundred three subjects with acoustic neuroma (AN) underwent surgery-inv
olving a retrosigmoid-transmeatal approach-between January 1990 and Decembe
r 1995. All the intracanalar tumors (n = 18) and 70 of the intra- and extra
canalar neuromas with an extracanalar neuroma size less than 25 mm-a total
of 88 patients-constituted the final study population. The first 48 patient
s were operated on with the use of classic procedures described in the lite
rature, characterized by limited exposure of the internal auditory canal an
d removal of the tumor after debulking. Surgery in the next 40 subjects was
conducted according to the technique of en bloc removal of the tumor. The
main features of this technique are continuous direct recording of cochlear
and facial-nerve action potentials, wide opening of the internal auditory
canal with lateral extension to the fundus, and removal of the tumor follow
ing the capsular lining without debulking. Statistical analysis of the resu
lts of the en bloc removal, compared with the previously used debulking tec
hnique, showed improvement in postoperative outcome for both auditory and f
acial-nerve function.