A vestibular schwannoma, also called acoustic neuroma is a intracraniel tumorof the myelin forming cells. The Neuroma is considered benign and is slow growing that developers from the balance and hearing nerves that that supply the inner ear, the vestibulocochlea nerve (or 8th cranial nerve). The schwannoma neuroma arises from the Schwann cell responsible for the myelin sheath that keeps peripheral nerves insulated. The schwannoma is commonly called an acoustic neuroma, this a misnomer for two reasons. First, the tumor most of the time arises from the vestibular division of the vestibulocochlear nerve, rather than the cochlear division, deriving from the schwann cells of the associated nerve, rather than the actual neuron ,or neuromas . There are Approxiamently 2,000 to 3,000 cases of this disease diagnosed each year in the United States, that's around 6 to 9 per million person. Some suggest that the incidence of acoustic neuromas has increased because of advances in MRI scanning. Most cases are diagnosed in people between the ages of 30 and 60, and men and women appear to be affected equally. Most acoustic neuromas occur spontaneously in those without a family history. It has been noted that one risk factor is a rare genetic mutation called or neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2).
Early detection of an acoustic neuroma is difficult to diagnose because of the symptoms are usually subtle. That being said, a diagnosis of acoustic neuroma can be difficult to diagnose because of the similarity of symptoms associated with many middle and inner ear problems.