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: 10/3/2007 Subject: acoustic neuroma
Question My 17 year old son was diagnosed with acoustic neuroma, the tumor is small 8mm. I am so confused on what procedure would be best gamma or surgery. I am nervous about gamma knife given his age and not knowing long term effects of this procedure. Surgery also has it downfalls. what would you suggest for a child. we have gotten two dr. opinions with opposing views on treatment.
Answer Hi Cindi,
A couple of questions:
1) Does your son have a tumor on the other side or anywhere else in the head or spine? Patients under 20 with acoustic neuromas should be screened for neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF-2).
2) How is the hearing? Is the audiogram normal?
3) Does he have any balance complaints?
4) Is the tumor located in the internal auditory canal?
I could probably give you more of an opinion after knowing the answers to the above questions. Where do you live?
If you want to email me at question@wilkinson.com I would be happy to email you directly.
