Auditory brain stem response in small acoustic neuromas.
OBJECTIVE
The auditory brain stem response (ABR) has been criticized recently as an insensitive measure for the detection of small acoustic neuroma (AN). This study was undertaken to evaluate our experience with the efficacy of ABR in detection of small tumors.


METHODS
Retrospective case review. Twenty-five patients with surgically proven small ANs measuring 1 cm or less were reviewed. In addition, 568 patients who underwent screening ABR were reviewed to evaluate the rate of false positive results at our institution.


RESULTS
ABR was abnormal in 92% of patients with small AN in this series. Screening ABR was abnormal in approximately 19% of cases, one-third of which were found to have AN on magnetic resonance imaging testing.


CONCLUSIONS
With strict adherence to optimal technique and evaluation criteria, the ABR remains a viable option for AN screening, especially in elderly patients or when there is a low index of suspicion.
El-Kashlan
H K
HK
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA.
Eisenmann
D
D
Kileny
P R
PR
D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone / Q000379:methods; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009464:Neuroma, Acoustic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index