acoustic neuroma, a benign unilateral or bilateral vestibular schwannoma that develops from the vestibulocochlear nerve and grows within the auditory canal, occurring rarely with the vestibular or cochlear apparatus of the inner ear. Depending on the location and size of the lesion, tinnitus, progressive hearing loss, headache, facial numbness, papilledema, dizziness, and an unsteady gait may result. Paresis and difficulty in speaking and swallowing may occur in the later stage. Also called acoustic neurilemmoma, acoustic neurinoma, acoustic neurofibroma schwannoma.
