# Stephanie: Skull base · Patient story > Advanced acoustic neuroma successfully operated in a seven-hour procedure. Real patient story from Brain & Spine Barcelona, Dr. Jorge Torales. URL: https://brainandspine-bcn.com/en/patient-stories/acoustic-neuroma/ Fuente: Brain & Spine Barcelona — https://brainandspine-bcn.com --- # Stephanie: removal of an acoustic neuroma of nearly 5 cm that gave her life back completely Advanced acoustic neuroma successfully operated in a seven-hour procedure. Patient of Dr. Jorge Torales Treated by Dr. Jorge Torales Acoustic neuromas ## How Stephanie recovered 48 hours after the tumour was removed she was already able to stand and begin walking with assistance. She has fully recovered her life; she has a minor residual hearing deficit that is being managed with a hearing aid and continues to improve. ## First symptoms: loss of sensation and a constant ringing in the ear Stephanie is 42 years old, has an 11-year-old daughter, and until two years ago was a prominent padel player. Her life changed when she began to lose sensation in her face and mouth. She saw a doctor and the results of the tests were unequivocal. > "The doctor, on seeing the results, dropped her face and said: I have to tell you that you have a tumour in your head." Looking back, Stephanie recognises that the first warning had come much earlier: for more than twelve years she had been losing hearing and noticing a constant ringing in her ear. As her neurosurgeon would later explain, that tinnitus is one of the first symptoms of acoustic neuroma because the tumour grows around the acoustic nerve. ## An advanced diagnosis and a high-risk location The tumour was already at an advanced stage. This type of lesion is usually discovered when it has reached a significant size and starts causing symptoms. In her case, the tumour and the adjacent fluid cyst together measured almost five centimetres, situated next to the area that regulates cerebrospinal fluid. The risk was clear: if it continued to grow, it could compress the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid to the spinal cord, causing it to accumulate in the head, severe headaches and the need for emergency surgery to place a drain. The good news was that it was a benign tumour: removing it was sufficient. ## Finding the specialist: how she came to Dr. Torales That same afternoon Stephanie set about finding one of the best neurosurgeons in Barcelona. That is how she came to Dr. Torales, with whom she secured an appointment in just one week. The specialist reviewed all the MRI scans and confirmed the diagnosis of acoustic neuroma, explaining that, given its location, it was relatively urgent to operate. > "He made me feel safe at every moment. I knew I was in the right hands." ## The operation: seven hours to preserve the nerve Stephanie knew in advance that it would be an operation of around seven hours, requiring part of her head to be shaved and a portion of the skull to be removed to access the tumour. The challenge was to carefully separate the structures to reach the nerve and clean it gradually to leave it intact. And they succeeded. > "The doctor managed to get me out of there perfectly. It was not an easy operation, but he performed it with full skill and humanity." ## An impressive recovery The post-operative period surprised Stephanie herself. 48 hours after having a tumour removed from her head, she was already able to stand and begin walking with assistance. She describes as impressive the way in which the entire team was by her side at that moment. Today she has fully recovered her life. She has a minor residual hearing deficit that is being managed with a hearing aid and, judging by progress over recent months, she expects it to continue improving. ## The human dimension of Dr. Torales If there is one thing Stephanie singles out from her experience it is the combination of professional excellence and human quality. She recalls gestures that, for her, make all the difference. > "Coming in on a Sunday to help me take my first steps, keeping an eye on me, sending emails asking how the recovery was going... that says a lot about a person." ## A positive experience from start to finish Stephanie emphasises that the trust began from the reception desk and continued through every consultation. Feeling, from the very first moment, that she was somewhere where they knew what they were doing completely changed her perception of the entire process. > "I was never worried for a moment. I did not doubt it for a second. I knew everything would be fine, and so it was." Real patient testimonial from Brain & Spine, reproduced with their consent. Each case is individual; the results of a treatment may vary depending on the patient, their condition and clinical circumstances. This information is not a substitute for personalised medical advice.