Preoperative findings and hearing preservation in acoustic neuroma surgery.

For the purpose of clarifying whether or not the possibility of hearing preservation can be predicted preoperatively, we compared clinical characteristics and preoperative test results between hearing preserved and hearing unpreserved patients. Based on an analysis of this study, we conclude that duration of symptoms, ABR findings and caloric test results, in addition to hearing level, speech discrimination score and tumor size should be considered as prognostic signs of hearing preservation. Although all factors do not suggest a definite possibility of hearing preservation, candidates for hearing preservation surgery should be selected according to these prognostic factors.