Microsurgical treatment of acoustic neurilemoma and facial nerve preservation

Objective To explore the skills of microsurgical treatment of acoustic neurilemoma and facial nerve preservation during the operation. Methods Twenty-three cases of acoustic neuroma treated microsurgically by a suboccipital retrosigmoid approach in our hospital within recent 6 years were analyzed retrospectively. Results In those cases, acoustic neuromas were totally removed in 18, subtotally removed in 3, and partly removed in 2. Facial nerve was kept anatomically intact in 15 cases of the patients. During the follow-up ranging from 6 months to 4 years, among 18 cases of total resection, 1 case relapsed and 8 obtained a facial nerve function recovery. Conclusion Acoustic neurilemoma can be totally removed with the microsurgical techniques by the suboccipital retrosigmoid approach, and in this way facial nerve can be kept anatomically intact, which is important for facial nerve function recovery.