The relationship between pure tone thresholds and the radiological dimensions of acoustic neuromas

A retrospective analysis of 109 consecutive patients presenting with acoust ic neuromas between 1986 and 1997 were undertaken. Sufficient data were ava ilable in 104 cases for comparison. In 65 cases patients had undergone surg ery and hosts of acoustic neuroma was confirmed histologically. In this gro up there were 25 large and 40 small tumors when a maximal radiological diam eter of 2.5 cm was used to subdivide the groups. When pure tone thresholds were compared of specific frequencies, in those with hearing ears, there wa s no significant difference between the two groups. Our results are compare d with recent series and the causes of hearing loss associated with acousti c neuroma are discussed.