The role of radiology in the diagnosis and management of vestibular schwannoma

The most frequent lesion identified at the cerebellopontine angle cistern and internal auditory meatus (IAM) is the vestibular schwannoma. Radiological features, the role of imaging in screening and follow-up, therapeutic approaches and appearances following treatment will be discussed. Other cerebellopontine angle lesions will be illustrated and an algorithm presented to help in the imaging differential diagnosis. Whilst lesions other than vestibular schwannomas are rarely isolated to the IAM, the key clinical and radiological features that should raise the possibility of alternative neoplastic and inflammatory diseases will be highlighted.