Is cochlear implantation possible after acoustic tumor removal?
HYPOTHESIS: This study aimed to assess the possibility of hearing restoration after acoustic tumor removal. BACKGROUND: Hearing restoration surgery may be indicated after surgery of bilateral acoustic tumors or surgery of acoustic tumor in the only hearing ear. The choice is between cochlear implantation and brainstem implantation. METHODS: From the temporal bone collection at the House Ear Institute, Los Angeles, the author histologically examined eight temporal bones from seven patients who had undergone acoustic tumor removal during their lifetime. Special emphasis was put on examining the patency of the cochlear turns and on survival of the spiral ganglion cells and cochlear nerve. RESULTS: This study showed that after translabyrinthine acoustic tumor removal, there is progressive osteoneogenesis of the cochlea associated with almost complete degeneration of the spiral ganglion cells and cochlear nerve. Similar findings were noticed after middle fossa removal of acoustic tumor with
