From what I have noticed it takes a lot of symptoms or a very very large tumor for doctors to act quickly.  With the size of your tumor and the symptoms being minor at the moment I'm not surprised that they are choosing to wait.  They usually want at to determine if it's growing and if so what the growth rate is.  I am a little surprised that they are waiting what appears to be 10 months for another scan.  My second MRI was only 3 months from the first one.  Mine was determined to be growing slowly and I ended up having 7 MRI's over the next couple years, with minor growth showing every single time, and symptoms multiplying as well before they finally said ok it's time to do surgery.  I chose the surgical route over the radiation route because I had read several cases where radiation either didn't work at all, or was only a temporary solution.  I felt that the surgery gave the best chance of being done with it for good.  But there are others who went the radiation path and had success that way too with significantly less recovery time.  Personally I feel my recovery couldn't have gone better.  I am single side deaf now, but by the time they finally agreed to do the surgery I had less than 10 percent hearing left in that ear anyway so it really isn't that much of change. 

Hello,

I am a 36 year old male who was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma last November. My current symptoms are tinnitus and mild to severe hearing loss on the left hand side. My AN measures 24x24x23mm.
I was referred on to an ENT surgeon who took a look at my case and decided to take a wait and see approach with another scan to be conducted in September.

From what I've read this size of AN would warrant a more immediate reaction but maybe I'm just being impatient. Has anybody had an AN of that size that they've continued watch and wait on? Would anyone recommend getting a second opinion?

Thanks.

Wow 8 years later.  I wouldn't think it would be Gamma Knife related either.  That's a long time for a side effect to show up.

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my post. I truly appreciate your support and insight.

I also wanted to share that I’ve now completed GK treatment. Reading through posts from others in the ANA community, including thoughtful replies like yours, has meant more to me than I can fully express. From the moment I was diagnosed through treatment, this community helped me educate myself, explore the best medical options, and feel supported during some of the most difficult moments.

Your willingness to share and respond makes a real difference for people like me. Thank you again for being part of that support system.

Diagnosed 10/2025
18x11 mm VS left side; right 4mm incidental petroclival meningioma close to trigeminal porus.
GK for VS @ University of Miami 3/2026

Yes I chose to have rectosigmoid approach surgery with Michael Link, MD and team. I traveled from Michigan.  I chose Mayo clinic because I trusted them, their data was very good as far as outcome.  I am a medical doctor and pediatrician so i realize that the speed for me to digest the information and make a decision was likely fast compared to someone without medical experience. I hope that this forum will help you as i found it to be a valuable resource.  Mayo Clinic in Rochester had what I was looking for: an experienced team, neuro intensive care unit for aftercare during the critical first 24 hours, and always answered my questions honestly, even tough ones. 
The surgery was hard on my body and recovery has been slow but steady.  I advise a team at your home to include a doctor of osteopathy  and physical therapist skilled in craniosacral therapy and brain rehab, an audiologist, and neuro optometrist (glasses with prisms have completely stopped the jiggling when moving my head from side to side and taught my brain a new relationship with gravity). I am now 8 mos. post op.   As of this month, a new skill is keeping balance with my eyes closed and stepping backward, so I have returned to dance lessons and joy.  Surgery is shocking and painful, recovery is slow and steady, accepting being the BEST in this body is a long path.  Contact me if you want to ask questions.