Acoustic neuroma surgery and tinnitus

Tinnitus following treatment for sporadic Acoustic neuroma

“…Tinnitus severity in the majority of respondents is at least a “moderate problem” and unrelated to treatment type (active and inactive), tumor size, tumor laterality, time after treatment, age, and gender. Those findings are in broad agreement with prior studies that suggest tinnitus is independent of most clinical factors, contributing to its elusive etiology . Peripheral auditory dysfunction may contribute to the development or exacerbation of tinnitus .…”

“…Our study profiles tinnitus severity in a cohort of acoustic neuroma patients accessed through the ANA Web site and evaluates key clinical features that may impact posttreatment severity comprehensively. Whereas prior studies have evaluated the frequency and importance of tinnitus following acoustic neuroma surgery, this study is novel in its deployment of the rigorously validated TFI, which is more sensitive to detect treatment‐related change compared to its predecessor, the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory …”

“…A recent U.K. survey of the British Acoustic Neuroma Association membership found tinnitus to be the most frequently selected issue of concern, followed by fatigue/tiredness and dizziness . Among those with acoustic neuromas, tinnitus has a significant impact on patient quality of life that is often underappreciated …”

“…Related studies have largely addressed the impact of microsurgical resection on tinnitus perception, with heterogeneous findings . Some studies report that the most common outcome after microsurgical resection is no change in tinnitus, whereas others report that the most common outcome is improvement in tinnitus . Methodological concerns of these studies include survey instruments that are qualitative and not validated, treatment consideration limited to surgical intervention, and interview design that requires recall of tinnitus severity prior to treatment.…”

Surgery for large vestibular schwannomas: how patients and surgeons perceive quality of life

“…Our study confirms that tinnitus may be of relatively minor importance in the overall QOL of patients after surgery for large acoustic neuroma. 7 In our opinion, tinnitus, which was present at approximately the same rate before and after surgery, is a factor in worsened psychological problems and headaches. The results of our study suggest that tinnitus diminishes with time following surgery.…”