Which term describes a benign tumor from the vestibulocochlear nerve?

Which term describes a benign tumor from the vestibulocochlear nerve?

• A. Acoustic neuroma
• B. Otosclerosis
• C. Presbycusis
• D. Nystagmus

Answer: (A)

A benign tumor from the vestibulocochlear nerve is called an acoustic neuroma (also known as a vestibular schwannoma). It arises from Schwann cells that sheath the nerve fibers of cranial nerve VIII, the nerve responsible for hearing and balance. Because it grows slowly from the nerve, it usually enlarges in the cerebellopontine angle and often presents with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and sometimes vertigo or balance problems. The name acoustic neuroma highlights its effect on hearing, even though its origin is in the vestibular portion of the nerve. Other terms describe different issues: otosclerosis is a middle-ear bone remodeling problem causing conductive hearing loss; presbycusis is age-related sensorineural hearing loss without a tumor; nystagmus is an involuntary eye movement that can accompany vestibular dysfunction but is not a tumor.

A benign tumor from the vestibulocochlear nerve is called an acoustic neuroma (also known as a vestibular schwannoma). It arises from Schwann cells that sheath the nerve fibers of cranial nerve VIII, the nerve responsible for hearing and balance. Because it grows slowly from the nerve, it usually enlarges in the cerebellopontine angle and often presents with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and sometimes vertigo or balance problems. The name acoustic neuroma highlights its effect on hearing, even though its origin is in the vestibular portion of the nerve. Other terms describe different issues: otosclerosis is a middle-ear bone remodeling problem causing conductive hearing loss; presbycusis is age-related sensorineural hearing loss without a tumor; nystagmus is an involuntary eye movement that can accompany vestibular dysfunction but is not a tumor.