Acoustic tumors in the young adult.

Despite the widely held notion that acoustic neuroma is a disease of the middle and late years of life, this neoplasm frequently begins in young adults. It has been reported as occurring in a patient as young as seven years of age. Often, patients in their 20s or 30s may have minimal symptoms despite sizable tumors. Constant alertness for such lesions is essential for early diagnosis and optimal prognosis.