Audiological neuroma is one of the common intracranial tumors, most of which grow slowly and are benign tumors that do not metastasize and rarely become malignant. However, the intracranial space is a bony and limited space, and the gradual increase of the tumor will affect other brain structures and cause corresponding symptoms. With the gradual growth of the tumor, the tumor will compress the adjacent auditory nerve (medically known as the cochlear nerve), which will cause tinnitus and hearing loss. This kind of symptom is sometimes not obvious, so the patient will often ignore it. When the symptom is very obvious, the acoustic neuroma is already very big, and the surgery is very difficult, which may lead to deafness and facial paralysis after the surgery.
However, monitoring of the facial nerve and the auditory nerve (if there is a possibility of preserving hearing) is what every patient expects, so a good hospital and a good doctor are very important. Since domestic neurosurgery started late and there are generally no specialized large neurosurgery hospitals, often patients wanting better treatment results have to look abroad. So, what are the top hospitals that are better at treating acoustic neuroma abroad?
Better hospitals abroad for acoustic neuroma
Acoustic neuroma is generally preferred to be removed by surgery, which is a curative treatment, and most of the tumors can be completely removed and will not recur. Surgery is mainly divided into craniotomy and minimally invasive surgery. In terms of craniotomy for acoustic neuroma, the University of Utah School of Medicine and the International Neurosurgical Institute (INI) in Hannover, Germany, are at the forefront of the world, while in terms of minimally invasive surgery for acoustic neuroma, it is the Lariboisiere Hospital in France that is more at the forefront. In addition to the hospital's advanced equipment and technology, the type of doctor who performs the surgery is particularly important, and only very skilled and experienced doctors are generally able to successfully remove an acoustic neuroma while preserving hearing.
Germany: Germany (INI) and its world-recognized master of skull base tumor surgery, Prof. Bart Langfeld
In Germany, Prof. Bart Langfeld, professor of neurosurgery at the International Neurosurgical Institute (INI) in Hanover, Germany, has done a very fine job in the surgery of acoustic neuroma. For the treatment of acoustic neuroma, Prof. Bartolanffy can skillfully combine various advanced equipments such as neuronavigation, neurophysiological detection, DTI, intraoperative nuclear magnetism, etc., to perform precise and safe microsurgery with three-dimensional visualization and precision, so as to remove as much as possible the stripped tumor lesions and at the same time, protect the function of the auditory nerve, the function of the facial nerve, and even the peripheral nerve function area, so as to make the patient's Postoperative survival quality can be guaranteed. Prof. Bartolomeo is not only able to perform complete resection of acoustic neuroma under 3cm without damaging the hearing or causing facial paralysis, but he is also able to perform complete resection of acoustic neuroma over 3cm with preservation of hearing as much as possible, with more than 98% probability of not having facial paralysis.
Professor Bartolomeo has visited China many times and is familiar to many Chinese patients, who affectionately call him Professor Bartolomeo. Prof. Ba is best at surgeries on the base of the skull, brainstem, thalamus, pituitary gland, and other complex locations. His patients come from all over Europe, the United States, Arab countries, and China, both by name and by recommendation of their treating physicians.
And Professor Bartramfi's International Neurosurgical Institute (INI) in Hannover, Germany, is a globally renowned neurosurgical treatment center located in Hannover, central Germany, with key departments of neurosurgery, neurology, neuroradiology, as well as otorhinolaryngology, orthopedics, and internal medicine, which focuses on treating neurological disorders. In addition, the INI has pioneered and promoted the new subdiscipline of neurosurgery known as skull base surgery, and as a result, the INI is world renowned for the surgical treatment of intracranial tumors, especially diseases of the skull base and brainstem.
USA: University of Utah School of Medicine and its master of auditory neuroma surgery, Prof. Couldwell
Professor William T. Couldwell is an expert in auditory neuroma surgery in the United States, who is particularly meticulous in auditory neuroma surgery. He is able to remove acoustic neuromas from multiple approaches and choose the most appropriate approach to remove acoustic neuromas according to the patient's different conditions, in order to ensure that the patient's hearing is preserved and a high resection rate can be achieved. In addition to his surgical expertise, Prof. William T. Couldwell has published 400 peer-reviewed articles, authored more than 100 book chapters, seven professional books, and has received numerous U.S. federal and other research grants.
The University of Utah School of Medicine, where Prof. Couldwell is based, is well known throughout the United States, and has made significant contributions to the United States and the world, including the world's first artificial permanent heart, which was born here and fitted into a human body. The University of Utah's Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) is the official cancer center for the state of Utah and a renowned cancer research center in the U.S. HCI manages the Utah Population Database, one of the largest genetic databases in the world, with information on more than 11 million people with genealogies, health records and vital statistics.
France: Hospital Lariboisiere and its neuroendoscopic surgeon Prof. Froelich
Minimally invasive techniques have undergone nearly a century of development, and with the successful completion of the world's first laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 1987, a new chapter in the development of minimally invasive techniques was opened. Subsequently, a large number of advanced surgical instruments have emerged, promoting the development of minimally invasive techniques and slowly moving towards maturity. Among them, neuroendoscopic surgery is a very famous minimally invasive surgery in recent years, which can successfully remove brain tumors without craniotomy, and is the first choice for patients who do not want to undergo craniotomy. Prof. Sebastien Froelich, who has done extensive research in neuroendoscopic surgery, has developed a unique invention, the "chopstick maneuver", which perfectly solves the disadvantage of requiring two people to perform neuroendoscopic surgery, and allows him to remove an acoustic neuroma by himself, which improves the efficiency of the surgery and greatly reduces the risk of the surgery.
The Lariboisiere Hospital, where Prof. Sebastien Froelich is based, was established in 1875 and has a very long history. It is one of the oldest neurosurgical hospitals in the world, and occupies an important position in France and in Europe as a whole.
In mid-November, INC's two international masters of skull base tumor surgery will come to China to lead surgery, a new choice for high-end brain tumor patients
On November 9, 2019, the second annual World Advisory Group on Neurosurgery (WANG) Summit, hosted by INC's International Neurosurgeons Group, is about to be opened in grand style! Taking this rare opportunity, INC Prof. Sebastien Froelich of France and Prof. Bart Langfeld of Germany will also perform surgery for brain tumor patients who are pursuing perfect surgical quality in China and intend to seek personal treatment by international chairman-level neurosurgeon masters in the domestic neurosurgery specialty-level tertiary hospitals, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, the Affiliated Children's Hospital of Soochow University, and the Zhejiang University School of Medicine Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine. In addition, 14 INC Global Chair neurosurgeons, including Prof. Bartolomeo Bartolomeo from Germany and Prof. Sebastien Froelich from France, will be open for on-site consultation for domestic patients.