About Eric P. Wilkinson, MD Expertise I am a board-certified otolaryngologist with additional subspecialty training in otology, neurotology, and skull base surgery. This is the subspecialty of otolaryngology that involves the ear, hearing, balance organs, the facial nerve, and surgery of the skull base including surgery for acoustic neuroma and other benign and malignant tumors of the base of the skull.
Experience Medical school, residency in otolaryngology, fellowship in otology/neurotology/skull base surgery
Organizations American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
North American Skull Base Society
American Neurotology Society
Publications Laryngoscope Otology and Neurotology
Education/Credentials MD Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 2001
Otolaryngology Residency, University of Iowa Department of Otolaryngology, Iowa City, IA
Otology/Neurotology Fellowship, House Ear Clinic, Los Angeles, CA
Expert: Eric P. Wilkinson, MD Date: 5/22/2007 Subject: Help
Question Dear Sir/Madame,
I have had some episodes of sudden hearing loss in the past few months and lately I have had a couple more of episodes that tend to recover in a few weeks time. My doctor had done to me and MRI scan and discovered an Vestibular Neuroma on the left side of my head of 3x5mm of dimension.
The doctor here sais that surgical treatment will almost certainly destroy the remaining hearing. He sais that stereotactic radiosurgery may be indicated if they can establish that the tumour is growing but he also said that unfortunately they have seen sudden hearing loss following this treatment as well.
Are they any chances of a treatment that would help to preserve the remaining hearing of my left ear? Or am I going to loose the hearing no matter what can I do?.
Please give me some advice if possible. Yesterday I had another case of sudden hearing loss that hopefully will recover in few weeks but they are starting to happen more often now and at some point I might loose my hearing completely.
CAN I AVOID THAT TO HAPPEN?
Do you know where is the best place to go to treat this in Europe or America?
Looking forward to hear from you.
Angel
Answer Hi Angel, you have several options for treatment. Options include observation, microsurgery (in your case a middle fossa approach), and radiosurgery. At experienced centers that do middle fossa in high volume, you have a 70% chance of preserving your hearing with tumor removal. If you would like more details, please email me at eric@wilkinson.com.
