Preservation of hearing in tumors of the internal auditory canal and cerebellopontine angle.

One hundred thirty-nine tumor removals are reviewed with special interest in ten attempts to save hearing. Three patients with bilateral tumors had some hearing preserved. One of these individuals had a 1 cm tumor removed and his postoperative SRT and discrimination scores were the same as his preoperative ones. Overall, the authors were able to maintain some hearing in six out of ten attempts. While there is no question that patients with bilateral tumors benefit from residual hearing, this is not always true in unilateral cases. The suboccipital and middle fossa procedures are discussed as well as the relative merits of each approach in the preservation of hearing. The total series (139 tumors) is discussed in detail regarding results and complications.