Is There Still a Role for Auditory Brainstem Response Audiometry in the Diagnosis of Acoustic Neuroma?

The Stacked ABR: A Sensitive and Specific Screening Tool for Detecting Small Acoustic Tumors

“…These problems of high cost, unavailability, patient discomfort, and risks to patients with metal implants, are circumvented by using ABR tests. On the other hand, as pointed out by Doyle [1999], proponents for screening with MRIs counter that (1) the cost of MRIs can be reduced through the use of the T 2 -weighted fast spin echo (FSE) MRI method Allen et al, 1996] because contrast material and long scan times are not required, (2) MRI facilities are widely available in major cities, and (3) open MRI systems can alleviate the problem with patients who are claustrophobic. However, these counter-claims and proposed solutions may not be adequate to overcome the problems with using MRIs as a screening tool.…”

Evaluation of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Diagnostic Approaches for Vestibular Schwannoma Based on Hearing Threshold Differences Between Ears

“…The value of ABR alone as a screening test for CPA lesions has proven to be of low sensitivity, especially for smaller tumors (7,8,(10)(11)(12)(13)21). However, using ABR as an additional criterion next to the threshold difference between ears might be of added value in terms of a more favorable location of the ROC curve.…”

“…However, the value of ABR has more recently been questioned by many authors, who have demonstrated a relatively low sensitivity, especially in the detection of small intrameatal tumors (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13).…”

MISME syndrome: A rare clinical entity

“…[12,13] The vestibular schwannoma enhances intensely with contrast medium such as gadolinium and thus virtually all tumors larger than 2 mm, including those in the internal auditory canal (IAC) appear brightly white against black bone or black CSF. [14,15] Early diagnosis of a vestibular schwannoma is the key to preventing its serious consequences. Some authors have reported that conservative treatment maybe a choice for patients with few symptoms, small lesions, and who are not able to undergo surgery, due to the slow growth of the tumor.…”