Sudden hearing loss induced by acoustic neuroma: significance of small tumors.

In our series of 111 patients operated on for acoustic neuroma from 1972 to 1990, 21 (18.9%) had sudden hearing loss. The 21 tumors involved were comprised of 9 small, 5 medium, and 7 large tumors. Emphasis is placed on the fact that even a small tumor has the potential to produce sudden hearing loss (SHL) and that the possibility of seeing patients with SHL is increasing thanks to advances in imaging diagnosis. Recognition of SHL as an initial symptom of acoustic tumor is considered essential to detect small acoustic neuroma.