Vestibular Schwannoma Treatment in Malaysia

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 tumour's impact on the hearing and balance nerves may result in symptoms. Additionally, the tumour may exert pressure on the facial nerve, which controls facial muscles, and the trigeminal nerve, which controls sensation. Vestibular Schwannomas can 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 a Vestibular Schwannoma:

• Loss of hearing typically occurs 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

The primary aetiology of tethered vestibular schwannoma is NF2 gene mutations, which lead to tumours that can stick to surrounding tissues. Patterns of tumour growth, previous surgery or radiation therapy, and the development of scar tissue that binds the tumour to surrounding structures can also lead to it.

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.

Permanent side effects from an auditory neuroma could include:

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

Latest Research and Technologies in the Treatment of Vestibular Schwannoma in Malaysia

Recent research on managing vestibular schwannoma (VS) in Malaysia has focused on enhancing radiotherapy and surgery techniques. The effectiveness of surgical approaches such as the retrosigmoid and translabyrinthine techniques in preserving facial nerve function and minimising complications has been evaluated. Although the translabyrinthine pathway has been associated with a lower incidence of facial nerve paresis, the retrosigmoid path, which is often utilised in VS treatment, provides favourable results in preserving the facial nerve. In addition, innovations in radiosurgery, such as the Gamma Knife and CyberKnife, have also shown promising results for smaller lesions and present the advantage of reduced complications with an alternative that does not involve direct invasion.

Vestibular Schwannoma Prevention Tips

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