What is a cerebellopontine angle tumor?
Tumor, mass or lesion: What's the difference?
What symptoms can it cause?
What does a left or right CPA mass mean?
How are treatment decisions made?
Is a CPA tumor dangerous?
Content
By Mayo Clinic Staff
A cerebellopontine angle (CPA) tumor is a growth found in a small space near the brainstem and cerebellum. This space, called the cerebellopontine angle, contains nerves that control hearing and balance. It also contains nerves that control feeling and movement in the face.
A CPA tumor, CPA mass or CPA lesion is not a diagnosis. These terms describe a finding seen in the cerebellopontine angle on imaging. The exact type of cerebellopontine angle tumor is not known until a care team reviews imaging and other test results.
The most common tumor in this area is a vestibular schwannoma. This also is called acoustic neuroma. It makes up more than 80% of CPA tumors. Other types of CPA tumors include meningiomas, epidermoid tumors and cysts.
