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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staff
The cause of acoustic neuromas — tumors on the main nerve leading from your inner ear to your brain (vestibulocochlear nerve) — appears to be a malfunctioning gene on chromosome 22. Normally, this gene produces a protein that helps control the growth of Schwann cells covering the nerves. What makes this gene malfunction isn't clear. Scientists do know the faulty gene is inherited in about half the cases of neurofibromatosis 2, a rare disorder that typically involves the growth of tumors on the vestibulocochlear nerve on each side of the head (bilateral neuromas).
References
- Acoustic neuroma. American Hearing Research Foundation. http://www.american-hearing.org/disorders/acoustic-neuroma/. Accessed June 14, 2010.
- Vestibular schwannoma (acoustic neuroma) and neurofibromatosis. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/acoustic_neuroma.asp. Accessed June 14, 2010.
- Park JK, et al. Vestibular schwannoma (acoustic neuroma). http://www.uptodate.com. Accessed June 14, 2010.
- Radiosurgery practice guideline initiative: Stereotactic radiosurgery for patients with vestibular schwannomas. International RadioSurgery Association. 2006: #4-06. http://www.irsa.org/AN%20Guideline.pdf. Accessed June 14, 2010.
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