This article describes surgical methods developed during my resection of 600 acoustic neuromas, 599 of which were total removals. This series began in 1965, with the introduction of the surgical microscope and the development of microsurgical technique. In the 1960s, there was no established technology for the microsurgery of acoustic neuromas. Much of the work of the great early neurosurgeons--Cushing, Dandy, Olivecrona, and other remarkable pioneers--did not really apply. New approaches, solutions, and tools were introduced at that time, and there was a long, steep learning curve. I hope that some of the discussion herein makes learning easier for the new generation of neurosurgeons as they develop their own operative nuances.
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