Introduction to Nerve Sheath Tumors

  It is one of the common intracranial tumors, accounting for 7%-12% of intracranial tumors and 80-95% of pontocerebellar horn tumors. It is a common intracranial tumor, accounting for 7-12% of intracranial tumors and 80-95% of pontocerebellar horn tumors. It is mostly seen in adults, peaking at 30-50 years old, and rare in children under 20 years old. There is no significant gender difference. The incidence is similar on the left and right, and occasionally bilateral. The main clinical manifestations are pontocerebellar horn syndrome and intracranial pressure elevation.  Etiology Auditory neuromas usually originate from the inner auditory canal segment of the VIII cerebral nerve, or from the beginning of the nerve sheath of the inner ear canal or the floor of the inner ear canal.  Clinical manifestations 1. Early ear symptoms When the tumor volume is small, tinnitus, hearing loss and vertigo will appear on one side, and deafness will appear after a little time in a few patients. Tinnitus may be accompanied by episodes of vertigo or nausea and vomiting.  2.Mid-term facial symptoms When the tumor continues to grow, it will compress the facial nerve and trigeminal nerve on the same side, resulting in facial muscle twitching and reduced secretion of lacrimal gland, or mild peripheral facial paralysis. Trigeminal nerve damage manifests as facial numbness, pain, hypoesthesia, diminished corneal reflex, poor strength of temporal and masticatory muscles or muscle atrophy.  3.Late stage cerebellopontocerebellar angle syndrome and posterior group cranial nerve symptoms When the tumor is large, it will compress the brainstem, cerebellum and posterior group cranial nerve, causing crossed hemiparesis and hemianesthesia, cerebellar ataxia, gait instability, dysphonia, hoarseness, swallowing difficulty, choking and coughing. If cerebrospinal fluid circulation obstruction occurs, there are headache, vomiting, vision loss, optic papillary edema or secondary optic nerve atrophy.  Treatment 1.Surgical treatment Surgery is preferred for auditory neuroma, which can be completely removed and cured completely. If the residual of the surgery, we can consider adjuvant gamma knife treatment.  2.Stereotactic radiation therapy is mostly used for patients with residual tumor, recurrence or less than 3cm, who are too old to tolerate surgery. In our department, the combined application of neurophysiological monitoring technology and microscopic neurosurgery technology to resect auditory neuroma was carried out earlier in China, with advanced technology. We have rich clinical experience with about 80 cases of auditory neuroma surgery every year, and this technology is in the leading position in China.