Schwannoma

A schwannoma is a benign nerve sheath tumor that most often arises from cranial nerve 8 (the vestibule-cochlear nerve) or cranial nerve 5 (the trigeminal nerve). Treatment for acoustic and trigeminal schwannomas is typically by surgical removal through a retro-sigmoid approach or other skull base approach. Alternatively in some cases or in patients in whom a total tumor removal is not possible, they can be effectively treated with radiosurgery or stereotactic radiotherapy.