Brain Tumors

Tumors of the brain, or along the brainstem in an area called the cerebello-pontine angle (CPA), can cause dizziness. The CPA is the space where the nerves that go to the inner ear (the hearing nerve and the balance nerve) run. Occasionally, a tumor can develop on the nerve that goes to the balance system. These tumors are benign (meaning that they only grow in that area and don’t spread to other parts of the body or invade things that are nearby) but can cause serious problems as they get larger and press against the brainstem. They most often are found because of hearing loss in one ear, but can present with dizziness. Sometimes the dizziness is just like that found in Meniere’s disease with roaring tinnitus, episodic vertigo, and ear fullness/pressure with hearing that fluctuates. They can also cause dizziness just by turning off the balance system on the side with the tumor. Tumors that grow within the brain itself can cause vertigo as well, but it is uncommon.