Acoustic neuroma / vestibular schwannomas / 8th nerve tumor

• It’s a benign tumor 

• Arising from the schwann cells of the vestibular division of the 8th cranial nerve (vestibulocochlear nerve).

• Location: Cerebellopontine angle, where the vestibulocochlear nerve exits the brainstem.

• Bilateral acoustic neuromas are a hallmark feature of Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2), caused by mutations in the NF2 gene encoding the merlin protein.

 

Histopathological finding: 

• Antoni A (densely packed cells) and Antoni B areas (loosely packed cells)

• Verocay bodies: Nuclear palisading (nucleus arranged in a row)

 

Diagnosis: 

• MRI with gadolinium contrast (Ice cream cone sign)

 

Mnemonic: 

A = A lot of cells (densely packed cells) 

B = Blank (loosely packed cells)

 

Disorders associated to NF2 gene (Chr-22) mutation:-

• Acoustic neuroma

• Ependymoma 

• Meningioma: Dural tail sign, Psamoma bodies

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