A tumor which has been irradiated and grows may be more difficult to remove than an un-radiated tumor. This is because effects of radiosurgery may require up to 18 months. The side effects of radiosurgery may be headache, dizziness, nausea, facial numbness, or rarely, cranial nerve paralysis. Microsurgery is initially more expensive, with follow-up MRI's suggested at perhaps 1 and 5 years if the tumor has been completely removed. Radiosurgery may be considered in selected patients in whom the risk of surgery is excessive because of advanced age or pre-existing health problems, patients having small to moderate sized tumors or patients with tumors on both sides, or in the only hearing ear.
Microsurgical treatment remains the treatment of choice for AN's.
An experienced microsurgeon, operating on tumors in the radiosurgery size range, can produce results comparable to radiosurgery and the long term tumor cure or control rate appears more certain with microsurgery.