Giant 'medial' acoustic tumours - The question of hearing preservation

A small number of acoustic tumours present at a late stage with a significant mass in the cerebello-pontine angle but with hearing that is either normal or very good. In some of these, Magnetic Resonance Imaging shows that there is no extension into the internal auditory canal. Tumours that do not have this extension have been labelled 'medial'. The author's experience in an attempt to preserve hearing in these tumours is documented.