Topic: Vestibular schwannomas

Vestibular schwannomas (VS) are a type of tumour which arises from Schwann cells in the vestibulocochlear nerve. Common symptoms in VS patients include hearing loss, tinnitus and vestibular function alterations. One hypothesis for these vestibular functional losses is that tumour secretions may damage the vestibular epithelia. Although benign, these tumours pose a danger to eloquent brainstem structures and excision through a trans-labyrinthine approach may be necessary. This presents an opportunity to examine the histologic state of VS patients' vestibular epithelia and relate it to their ves