Computed tomography of acoustic neuromas with emphasis on small tumor detectability.

The results of CT analysis of 41 acoustic neuromas are presented. Large and medium-sized tumors are easily detected: our results are comparable to the reported findings of other authors. The detectability of small acoustic neuromas is considerably improved by the application of newer-generation CT apparatus and the use of specific scanning parameters, including extremely thin overlapping slices, low scan speed, high gantry tilt, short time between contrast agent application and tumor scanning, and computer-assisted magnification of the posterior fossa.