Vestibular Schwannoma Treatment in India

What is Vestibular Schwannoma?

A noncancerous tumour called an Vestibular Schwannoma forms on the major nerve that connects the inner ear to the brain. The vestibular nerve is the name of this nerve. Hearing and balance are directly impacted by the nerve's branches. Hearing loss, ringing in the ears, and balance issues can all be symptoms of pressure from an Vestibular Schwannoma. The Schwann cells that cover the vestibular nerve give rise to an auditory neuroma. Vestibular Schwannomas often grow slowly. On rare occasions, it could spread out rapidly and get big enough to put pressure on the brain and interfere with essential processes.

What is the Importance of Timely Treatment?

Timely treatment is important because Vestibular Schwannomas can exacerbate hearing loss and balance function even if they are not growing. Untreated Vestibular Schwannomas can result in a potentially fatal accumulation of fluid in the brain or in the compression of the brain stem and cerebellum.

What are the symptoms of Vestibular Schwannoma

Vestibular Schwannoma symptoms can take years to manifest and are frequently overlooked. The tumor's impact on the hearing and balance nerves may result in symptoms. Additionally, the tumour may exert pressure on the facial nerve, which controls face muscles, and the trigeminal nerve, which controls sensation. Vestibular Schwannomas can potentially impact brain structures or blood vessels. The likelihood of more obvious or severe symptoms may increase as the tumour grows.

The following are typical signs of an Vestibular Schwannoma:

• Loss of hearing, typically occurring gradually over months to years. Rarely, hearing loss may occur suddenly. Usually, one side experiences hearing loss, or it is more severe on one side
• Tinnitus in the afflicted ear (ringing in the ear)
• Loss of equilibrium or unsteadiness
• Lightheadedness
• Numbness in the face and, in rare cases, loss of muscle mobility or paralysis.

Causes and Risk Factors of Tethered Vestibular Schwannoma

Causes

An issue with a gene on chromosome 22 may occasionally be the cause of auditory neuromas. The tumour suppressor protein that is normally produced by this gene aids in regulating the proliferation of the Schwann cells that coat the nerves. The reason of this gene issue is unknown to experts. Vestibular Schwannomas frequently have no recognised cause. People who have neurofibromatosis type 2, an uncommon condition, inherit this gene mutation. Tumours typically form on the hearing and balance nerves on both sides of the head in people with neurofibromatosis type 2. Bilateral vestibular schwannomas are the name given to these tumours.

Risk Factors

Having a parent with neurofibromatosis type 2, a rare genetic condition, is the sole known risk factor for auditory neuromas. However, only around 5% of occurrences of auditory neuromas are caused by neurofibromatosis type 2. Noncancerous tumours on both sides of the head's balancing nerves are a defining feature of neurofibromatosis type 2. Other nerves may also develop tumours. The term "autosomal dominant disorder" refers to neurofibromatosis type 2. This indicates that a child may get the disorder's gene from just one parent. Affected parents have a 50/50 probability of passing it on to their offspring.

Permanent side effects from an auditory neuroma could include:

• Loss of hearing
• Weakness and numbness in the face
• Balance issues
• Ear ringing
• Sometimes the passage of cerebrospinal fluid between the brain and spinal cord is blocked by large tumours pressing on the brainstem. Hydrocephalus is the accumulation of fluid in the brain. The pressure inside the skull rises as a result.

Vestibular Schwannoma Prevention Tips

There are presently no proven preventative methods for vestibular schwannomas because the actual cause is unknown, but early detection through routine doctor's visits is essential, particularly if you have a family history of neurofibromatosis type 2.