Q&A

Subject: Neuro Fibroma

From: Ed

I have recently been diagnosed with a fibroma on the auditory nerve that showed up on an MRI. The MRI was a result of an auto accident during which I suffered a mild concussion and soft tissue damage. The doctor indicated that the mass was not caused by the accident but could have been aggravated by it. What type of specialist should I seek out? I have had a hearing loss (pronounced in the high frequencies) for 10 years that is getting progressively worse. Your help would be appreciated.

Dear Ed,

There are two schools of thought on how to deal with a fibroma. Typically, they are extremely slow growing and may even have been present at birth. They are seldom cancerous. Therefore, if they are not interfering with your life, many times the decision is to simply monitor though periodic MRI's. However, if the fibroma is large enough or positioned such that it impacts other nerve function such as balance or gait, then it is usually removed. The physician to do that is a neuro-otologist. You want to seek out such a physician and question how many such surgeries he or she has completed. In some cases, the fibroma can be "peeled" off the auditory nerve, preserving the hearing. More and more often, the surgeons are using a technique called "intraoperative monitoring" to keep track of the functioning of the auditory nerve during the surgery, improving the chances of maintaining hearing. The clinic most well known in the field is the House Institute in Los Angeles. Their surgeons have pioneered in this surgery and would be a good resource either for your surgery or as a referral source to surgeons in your area.

Good Luck!
Solveig