The usefulness and limitation of the imaging techniques for the diagnosis of acoustic neuroma

Abstract

We reviewed pre-operative findings of imaging tests such as plain X-P, enhanced CT, high resolution CT and Gd-enhanced MRI in 48 cases with surgically proven unilateral acoustic neuroma who were operated on by the Extended Middle Cranial Fossa Approach in Keio University Hospital over the last 2 years. We analyzed the usefulness and limitation of these techniques ; as a result, the plain X-P was found to be still valid for the diagnosis of acoustic neuroma as a screening test, and MRI is confirmed to be the final diagnostic technique for acoustic neuroma at the present. In addition, the charges for the imaging techniques in Japan and the Untited States for diagnosing AN were compared and discussion about the significance of these imaging techniques was made from the view point of health economics.