[Brain stem audiometry and metrizamide-meatocisternography in diagnosis of small neurinomas of the acoustic nerve (author's transl)].

Reviewing the newest literature, an acoustic neuroma can be detected in 96% of the cases, employing brainstem audiometry. The present study aims to answer the question how good small acoustic neuromas can be detected using this method. Fifty patients with an asymmetric hearing loss, with unilateral caloric deficit and short lasting periods of dizziness when changing position were investigated. Brainstem audiometry as well as metrizamide-meatocisternography were carried out. Thus we were able to detect seven small acoustic neuromas; only one tumor could not be detected with the brainstem audiometry. The findings will be shown and discussed.