National Organization for Acoustic Neuroma Tumor Patients to celebrate 25th anniversary

Jun 26 2007

The national Acoustic Neuroma Association (ANA), will mark its 25th anniversary at its 18th annual symposium in Philadelphia.

The three-day event is scheduled for July 13-15, 2007 at the Doubletree Hotel. The ANA's mission is to inform, educate and provide support for those who have developed these benign tumors, which can cause hearing loss and migraines among other medical problems.

The symposium, sponsored by the Department of Neurological Surgery at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, under the leadership of David W. Andrews, M.D., Professor of Neurological Surgery, Jefferson, will feature 30 workshops and general sessions presented by leading acoustic neuroma medical professionals with information of interest to both pre- and post-treatment patients.

A 25th anniversary banquet dinner will also be held and will include an awards ceremony, a speech from founder Ginny Fickel Ehr and a historic video.

An acoustic neuroma is a benign tissue growth that arises on the eighth cranial nerve leading from the brain to the inner ear. Symptoms include tinnitus (ringing in the ear), hearing loss and dizziness. For 25 years the ANA has been an essential resource for health care professionals who treat acoustic neuroma patients.

"We have put together the most ambitious educational and social gathering in the history of this prestigious organization," commented Dr. Andrews, Director, Division of Neuro-oncologic Neurosurgery and Stereotactic Radiosurgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. "Acoustic neuroma patients and their families have more options now than ever, and this symposium will avail members to all of them and be very informative."

"This year's symposium not only brings together the latest information on treatment and research presented by the nation's leading experts on acoustic neuroma, but it is also the return to Pennsylvania, celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Acoustic Neuroma Association. The symposium will provide opportunities to learn important acoustic neuroma information, to network with physicians and other acoustic neuroma patients and to share friendship," added ANA Executive Director Judy Vitucci.

The workshops and general sessions will address a variety of issues, including treatment options (radiation, surgery or watch and wait), post-treatment issues and support for families of acoustic neuroma patients and new developments in treatment.

The symposium will also address new information from publications indicating that because of advances in MRI scanning, incidence of acoustic neuromas is rising. Studies in Denmark published in 2004 show the incidence is 17.4 per million or close to two persons per 100,000. Most acoustic neuromas are diagnosed in patients between the ages of 30 and 60.

ANA was founded in Carlisle, Pa. in 1981. Founder Virginia Fickel Ehr had microsurgical removal of her large acoustic neuroma almost 30 years ago. Before and after surgery, she experienced significant neurological deficits. After locating a small group of similar patients, she concluded that others would benefit from support and information provided by a patient-headed organization. With help from a number of leading surgeons and patient volunteers, ANA was incorporated in 1981. During her decade and a half of ANA leadership, she contacted thousands of acoustic neuroma tumor patients and worked for the association's growth in services and numbers. In addition, Ms. Ehr wrote patient perspective articles for medical journals and spoke to both patient and medical groups in the U.S. and Europe.

The Department of Neurological Surgery at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience (JHN) represents one of the busiest academic neurosurgical programs in the country, offering comprehensive management for patients with neurological diseases affecting the brain and spine.

The Jefferson neurosurgical program emphasizes state-of-the-art treatment of brain tumors, spinal disease, vascular brain diseases, epilepsy, pain, Parkinson's disease and the full gamut of neurological disorders. Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience's neurosurgical staff performs more than 5,000 procedures annually. In addition, Jefferson clinicians collaborate with scientists at the Farber Institute for Neuroscience at JHN on research encompassing a variety of areas, including cerebrovascular disease, gene therapy and epileptic behavior.

For more information on ANA or the symposium visit