Hearing preservation by the extended and nonextended middle cranial fossa approach for acoustic neuroma

The results of 248 cases of acoustic neuroma surgery carried out mainly by the extended middle cranial fossa approach during a 16-year period from 1976 to 1991 are analyzed. Hearing preservation was attempted in 69 cases and successfully achieved in 35 (51%) cases. Hearing was preserved in 24 (57%) of 42 cases in which a tumor was 20 mm or smaller in diameter, pure-tone hearing level was 50 dB or lower, and speech discrimination score was 50% or higher. The hearing preservation rate (76%) in the cases with a tumor extending 3 mm or less from the internal auditory canal was much higher than in cases with a larger tumor. Hearing was preserved in three of seven cases with a tumor of 21 mm or larger and in two of four cases of neurofibromatosis type 2. The evaluation of postoperative hearing is also discussed.