Microsurgical Management of Large Acoustic Neuromas

Objective To explore the microsurgical technique through a suboccipital retrosigmoid approach,and prognosis in the patients with large acoustic neuromas.Methods The clinical data of 55 patients with large acoustic neuromas,of whom,45 were treated by microsurgery through suboccipital retrosigmoid approach and 10 were treated by microsurgery through presigmoid approach,were analysed retrospectively.Results Of 55 patients with large acoustic neuromas,49 received total resection of the tumors and 6 subtotal.The facial nerves were preserved anatomically in 47 patients(85.45%,47/55).The following up one year after the operation showed that the facial nerve functions were recovered well in 35(63.6%,35/55) of 47 patients whose facial nerves were preserved anatomically.Conclusion The microsurgery through suboccipital retrosigmoid approach for the large acoustic neuromas can result in good anatomical and functional preservation of the facial nerve,and decrease the operative complications.