Meniere’s disease and acoustic Neuroma can have similar symptoms
Meniere’s disease or acoustic neuroma? During the diagnosis process for Meniere’s disease, eventually you should have an MRI. One purpose of the MRI is to discount any tumors growing in areas that could cause the same or similar symptoms to Meniere’s,
There is a type of non cancerous tumor called ‘acoustic neuroma’.
What is an acoustic neuroma?
An acoustic neuroma (vestibular schwannoma) is a benign tumor that develops on the balance (vestibular) and hearing, or auditory (cochlear) nerves leading from your inner ear to the brain.
The pressure on the nerve from the tumor may cause hearing loss, imbalance and tinnitus.
In rare cases, it is possible for an acoustic neuroma to grow large enough to compress the brainstem and become life-threatening.
In the United States, approximately 2,500-3,000 cases of the most common type of acoustic neuroma are diagnosed each year.
Also called: Acoustic neurilemmoma, Acoustic neurinoma, Auditory tumor, Vestibular schwannoma
The tumor usually grows slowly. As it grows, it presses against the hearing and balance nerves. At first, you may have no symptoms or mild symptoms.
Acoustic neuroma can be difficult to diagnose, because as stated above the symptoms are similar to those of Meniere’s and other ear conditions.
If the tumor stays small, you may only need to have it checked regularly. If you do need treatment, surgery and radiation are options.
If the tumors affect both hearing nerves, it is often because of a genetic disorder called neurofibromatosis.
The tumor can also eventually cause numbness or paralysis of the face. If it grows large enough, it can press against the brain and becoming life-threatening.
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Related article:
Click here to read Managing Meniere’s Disease
Click here to read The Need for Balance – Dealing with the Causes of Meniere’s
Help other sufferers.
Do you have Meniere’s disease or acoustic neuroma?
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References/Further reading: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/acoustic-neuroma/
