When Jennifer, an assistant principal at an alternative high school, was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma, she went to the Internet and did her homework. She learned everything she could about the benign brain tumor that grows from the sheath of nerves responsible for hearing and balance within the internal auditory canal.

Jennifer traveled from Louisville for treatment with John M. Tew, MD, Clinical Director of the University of Cincinnati Neuroscience Institute (UCNI) and a neurosurgeon with the Mayfield Clinic. Dr. Tew performed a “near-total resection,” removing the bulk of Jennifer’s 3.5-centimeter tumor but leaving a small percentage of it in place. His goal in removing most of the tumor, but not all, was to minimize the risk to the adjacent facial and cochlear (hearing) nerves.

Jennifer's diagnosis qualified her for participation in a clinical study involving subtotal resection of large acoustic neuromas. The study, led by Mayfield's Philip Theodosopoulos, MD, will help doctors acquire evidence about which therapeutic strategy works best following a diagnosis like Jennifer's.

Jennifer is doing well and is back at work, enjoying her walks, and looking forward to returning to her normal fitness routine, which involves swimming and weight-lifting. Although hearing in her right ear was compromised, she considers herself fortunate to have "hit the ground running" following treatment for a brain tumor.

Related links:

• Acoustic Neuroma
• Craniotomy
• Physician bio: Dr. John Tew
• Clinical Trial - Acoustic Neuroma