title: Retrosigmoid approach for small and medium-sized acoustic neuromas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Clinical study of the keyhole acoustic neuroma retrosigmoid approach for facial nerve and hearing preservation.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective case review from October 1993 to December 1998 in a referral hospital care unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 119 consecutive patients with a tumor size of <25 mm in the cerebellopontine angle corrected by a retrosigmoid approach were included in the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Standard audiometric and imaging assessments, complete tumor removal by using endoscopy-assisted control, and nerve monitoring.
  
  
  METHODS
  House-Brackmann facial nerve grade and hearing level by the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery classification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Grades I and II facial nerve function was obtained in 96% of cases, measurable hearing was preserved in 49% of cases, and 30% of cases achieved serviceable hearing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The retrosigmoid approach is a safe and reliable approach in random patients with small and medium-sized acoustic neuromas.
authors.affiliation: ORL Unit, Hopital Nord, Marseille cedex, France.
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Magnan
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barbieri
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mora
authors.forename: Sreerama
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Renaud
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meller
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bruzzo
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chays
mesh_terms: D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002530:Cerebellopontine Angle / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003056:Cochlear Nerve / Q000502:physiology; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000502:physiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009464:Neuroma, Acoustic / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013506:Otologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index