Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery Unit

Contact: Box 48, Tel: 01223 586 638 (hospital extension 6638); Fax: 01223 217559

• Information for patients: FAQs about acoustic neuromas

• Profile of the surgery performed in the Unit

The Neurotology and Skull Base Unit at Addenbrooke's consists of a well-established multidisciplinary team that specialises in the treatment of acoustic neuromas and other tumours of the skull base. It is a tertiary referral centre for pathology of the ear, temporal bone, cerebello-pontine angle and the skull base. Expertise and experience in the field has been built over many years. The Unit has a philosophy of close teamwork of the neurotologist (Mr David Moffat and Mr Patrick Axon), the neurosurgeons (Mr David Hardy and Mr Robert Macfarlane), and their support team.

The Unit has operated on more than 1000 patients who have tumours of the cerebellopontine angle (a part of the brain), and skull base in addition to the care and management of many people who have other less common lesions of the skull base (such as meningiomas, cholesteatomas and glomus jugulare tumours).

Our research into the basic science of acoustic neuromas, including its molecular genetics, has helped the team and others understand better the behaviour of this and other conditions (research and academic website - to follow).

Key contacts:

• Consultants: Mr David A Moffat, special interests: acoustic neuromas, disorders of the facial nerve, tumours of the cerebellopontine angle and skull base, the genetics of vestibular schwannomas, Meniere Disease, (Webpage on research and academic website- to follow); Mr Patrick Axon, Special interests: neurotological and skull base surgery; Mr Robert Macfarlane, special interests: skull base surgery, trigeminal neuralgia and paediatric neurosurgery

• Consultant and Medical Director: Mr David Hardy, special interests: neurotological and skull base surgery

• Head of Audiology, Audiological Scientist: Mr David Baguley, special interests: tinnitus, dizziness, audiological aspects of vestibular schwannomas and other lesions of the cerebellopontine angle, Meniere's disease, sudden hearing loss, electrocochleography

• Nurse practitioner: Jean Hatchell

Also on this website:

• Audiology Department home page

• Information for patients:
  FAQs about acoustic neuromas

• Profile of the surgery performed in the Unit

On other websites:

• Acoustic Neuroma and Meningioma Network
  An Addenbrooke's-based self-help group that aims to improve the quality of life for existing, past and new patients who have acoustic neuroma and/or meningioma.

• US Acoustic Neuroma Association (ANA)

• American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery: online patient information centre

• Information on acoustic neuroma from the University of California, San Francisco (mainly academic and research information)

• US National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference Statement: acoustic neuromas: (US medical advice)

• US National Neurofibromatosis Foundation

• MedMark: Medical bookmarks on the web: Otolaryngology

• MedMark: Medical bookmarks on the web: Neurosurgery

• University of Cambridge: Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery Unit (research and academic website - to follow)