Dj mixer with headphones at nightclub light
As a radio DJ, this patient’s world is music: knowing music, playing music, hearing music. But when he is diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma—a benign tumor growing on the nerve that leads from the ear to the brain—and must undergo treatment, his ability to hear is in jeopardy.
On a Friday afternoon, the patient experienced some hearing loss in his left ear. He describes the sensation as similar to when one’s ears pop, causing some hearing loss, and after yawning, it returns.
His did not.
Hearing loss is one of several symptoms that often accompany an acoustic neuroma, also known as a vestibular schwannoma. The condition occurs when the cells wrapping the acoustic nerve, which plays a role in hearing and maintaining a sense of balance, grow out of control and become a benign tumor. As the tumor grows, it starts to compress surrounding structures, including the acoustic nerve. Although benign, meaning the tumor will not spread to other parts of the body, it still must be removed.
When the patient’s hearing did not come back after three days, he decided to go to the doctor.
Dr. Anthony D’Ambrosio of Neurosurgeons of New Jersey recommended a solution: the Gamma Knife, a technology that uses high-precision radiotherapy to treat a diseased area in the brain. Despite the name, no knife or incision is required.
“The Gamma Knife Perfexion unit is the most accurate when you’re trying to preserve hearing or work near someone’s brain stem,” Dr. D’Ambrosio says. The Gamma Knife focuses 201 beams of gamma radiation on the diseased area. Treatment includes several exposures, each usually lasting about 10 minutes. Other areas on the patient where each beam passes through are not damaged because they receive only 1/200th of a dose, he explains.
Dr. D’Ambrosio treats other conditions using the Gamma Knife, including acoustic neuromas, brain tumors, neurological defects such as Parkinson disease, arteriovenous malformations and more.
Dr. D’Ambrosio is Co-Director of the The Valley Hospital Gamma Knife Center in the Institute for Brain and Spine Radiosurgery. He was integral in developing this successful Center and has since performed multiple surgeries using its state-of-the-art technology to treat brain tumors.
As part of preparing for the procedure, Dr. D’Ambrosio always explains the procedure to his patients. In this case, he went clearly and carefully over the Gamma Knife procedure with his patient to be sure he understood the process and potential effects, including the chance that his hearing could be affected.
Knowing his hearing could be affected, the patient weighed the options and felt he was in good hands with Dr. D’Ambrosio. He underwent the Gamma Knife procedure on a Thursday and was home the same day. By Monday, he was thrilled to be back at the radio show playing music!
Dr. D’Ambrosio says, “The patient’s hearing is fine, and he has had no growth of his tumor since we treated him.”
For this patient, the life he knew suddenly seemed in jeopardy, but with the help and guidance from Gamma Knife expert Dr. D’Ambrosio, he received the treatment he needed and returned to his life and kept the music playing.
To watch the video about Dr. D’Ambrosio treating his patient with the Gamma Knife, visit here.
Learn more about Dr. D’Ambrosio on his bio page here.
Image credit: [aleksandar kamasi] / DollarPhotoClub
