Tumor-associated hemorrhage in patients with acoustic neuroma.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the clinical significance of tumor-associated hemorrhage in patients with acoustic neuromas.

STUDY

DESIGN

Retrospective chart review.

SETTING

University-based, tertiary care teaching hospital.

PATIENTS: Three patients with acoustic neuromas who experienced symptomatic tumoral bleeding.

INTERVENTIONS: Radiographic imaging, surgical removal of tumors, and pathologic analysis.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patient histories, radiologic characteristics, surgical results, and pathologic findings.

RESULTS

Tumoral hemorrhage can occur in patients with acoustic neuromas. These three cases and a review of the world literature suggest that tumor size may be the most important risk factor for tumor-related hemorrhage.

CONCLUSION

These findings have implications for those patients with acoustic neuromas who choose not to have surgical removal.