[Neurinoma of the acoustic nerve diagnosed at the otoneurologic laboratory of the Regional Hospital with Polyclinic in Ostrava].

In 1977-1987 at the otoneurological laboratories of the Regional Hospital with Policlinic in Ostrava 41 neurinomas of the acoustic nerve were diagnosed. The incidence of the disease in the catchment area was 1:125,555 per year. Women were affected more frequently than men, the mean ratio being 5:3. 12% of the tumours were under 1 cm in size and 30% under 2 cm. In women and youth as a rule larger tumours were found than in men. Women had also on average a shorter case-history--by 1.5 years. Acute unilateral hypacusia, as the initial symptom of the disease was recorded in 17% of the patients, again more frequently in women (23%) than in men (6.5%). In the majority of patients the diagnosis was late through the fault of the attending physician who for long considered the patient's complaints trivial and did not indicate an adequate examination. The thus lost time reduces the patient's chances. Even the most perfectly equipped otoneurological laboratory with optimal diagnostics cannot reverse the patient's sad fate.