Bilateral Acoustic Tumors and Neurofibromatosis

Abstract

IN ADDITION to the 200 patients presented in this monograph who were operated upon because of unilateral acoustic tumors, there was another group of patients whom we wish to present in this section. Eight patients were operated upon who harbored bilateral acoustic tumors and four patients were seen with multiple neuromas and other tumors intracranially and along the spinal axis (Table). Needless to say, the management of this group of patients presented formidable difficulties because of the imminent possibility of total deafness, loss of labyrinthine function, and bilateral facial paralysis. We will present the case histories of five patients in this group that illustrate the significant features in the management of this difficult problem. <h3>Report of Cases</h3> Case1.—<i>Summary</i>.—Bilateral acoustic tumors. Total removal of both tumors with preservation of bilateral hearing and facial nerve function. <i>History</i>.—27-year-old man with an eight-year history of intermittent unsteadiness and tinnitus on