Treatments

Acoustic Neuroma Treatments

Because acoustic neuromas are complex, Northwestern Medicine offers a team approach to care. Our specialists work together to give you a comprehensive assessment. Then, they will tailor a treatment plan for your needs.

Acoustic neuroma treatment aims to maintain your facial nerve function and save as much hearing as possible. Your treatment will depend on your age, health and tolerance for various treatments.

If the neuroma is small, slow-growing and not causing symptoms, your physician may not recommend treatment.

If you need treatment, your care team may recommend the following:

• Gamma Knife® radiosurgery: This technique delivers a single large dose of radiation to a specific target with surgical precision. It minimizes damage to nearby tissue, discomfort and the risk of bleeding and infection.
• Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy delivers high doses of radiation to specific areas of the body to treat cancer. It is used to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors.
• Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS): A highly targeted form of radiation therapy that can stop the growth of tumors more accurately and effectively.
• Stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT): Delivers ultra-focused radiation to just the tumor. SRT controls the growth of a tumor or abnormal cells by killing the cells or by disrupting their ability to grow.
• Surgery/craniotomy: Your surgeon may remove all or part of the acoustic neuroma. They will remove it through your ear or through a flap in your skull. Surgery carries risk of complications, including worse symptoms.