According to sources at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Zhongshan University, the team led by Dr. Chen Suijun, Associate Director of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Director of the Ear Specialized Department, recently successfully completed a right-sided acoustic neuroma resection using the 3D exoscope-assisted retrosigmoid approach. This marks the first such procedure in South China utilizing a 3D exoscope for acoustic neuroma resection.
Professor Chen Suijun's team performs tumor resection assisted by 3D external visualization mirror. Photo provided by interviewee.
"Doctor, I've been experiencing decreased hearing in my right ear for over 4 years now. What could be causing this?" Mr. Li, a 56-year-old patient (pseudonym), sought medical attention from Professor Chen Suijun's team for his declining hearing in the right ear. Following CT, MR, and other imaging examinations, doctors discovered a mass with a maximum diameter of about 1.5cm in Mr. Li's right internal auditory canal, affecting the cerebellopontine angle region, likely indicating an acoustic neuroma.
Professor Chen Suijun's team promptly conducted a comprehensive set of examinations for Mr. Li and initiated a multidisciplinary case discussion. It was explained that an acoustic neuroma, a common benign tumor in the skull, typically located in the cerebellopontine angle region, is mainly derived from Schwann cells of the vestibular nerve sheath within the internal auditory canal. Apart from hearing loss and tinnitus, some patients may also experience symptoms such as dizziness and facial paralysis.
"The tumor Mr. Li is afflicted with is intracranial, posing significant surgical challenges and risks. Balancing the thorough removal of the tumor while preserving the patient's hearing and facial nerve function presents a major difficulty for the surgical team," explained Professor Chen Suijun. After extensive preoperative discussions and preparations, the team decided to perform a right-sided acoustic neuroma resection for Mr. Li via the retrosigmoid approach, with assistance from the latest 3D external visualization mirror.
During the surgery, the surgical area was clearly exposed under the visualization of the 3D external mirror, allowing the operating surgeon to meticulously observe the patient's tumor, auditory nerve, facial nerve, and other vital anatomical structures. Professor Chen Suijun carefully dissected Mr. Li's tumor from the surrounding brainstem and cranial nerves, achieving thorough hemostasis and successfully removing the tumor in sections. Currently, Mr. Li is recovering well postoperatively, with both his auditory and facial nerves being fully preserved.
"This marks a promising start for the application of 3D external visualization mirror-assisted lateral skull base surgeries in our hospital and is the first case in South China," stated Professor Chen Suijun. Surgeries on the lateral skull base assisted by 3D external visualization mirrors offer a broad surgical field and clear images. Compared to traditional microscopic surgeries, surgeons do not need to bend their necks to look into the eyepiece, allowing for a more comfortable posture and reduced fatigue. During surgical training sessions, team members can also immerse themselves in the surgical process by wearing 3D glasses, facilitating medical education.
With external visualization mirrors, a series of lateral skull base surgeries will achieve broader visual fields, more comfortable postures, and enhanced educational opportunities for surgeons. Professor Chen Suijun reminds everyone to promptly seek medical attention if experiencing hearing loss and tinnitus, to rule out sensorineural hearing loss caused by acoustic neuromas, and if necessary, to undergo comprehensive inner ear MRI examinations for further assessment. Once diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma, patients may require treatments such as regular observation, gamma knife radiotherapy, and surgical intervention.
In addition to acoustic neuroma resections assisted by 3D external visualization mirrors, Professor Chen Suijun's team has also pioneered many innovative surgical techniques in recent years, including combined auditory nerve monitoring for acoustic neuroma surgery, simultaneous auditory implantation for microtia correction, simultaneous auditory implantation for acoustic neuroma surgery, and auditory implantation assisted by 3D external visualization mirrors.
