Editorial: Molecular biology and treatment strategies for tumors of middle and inner ear

The six articles included in this Research Topic reflect developments in the understanding and management of tumors affecting the skull base, cerebellopontine angle, temporal bone and sinonasal cavity. These studies collectively highlight the importance of imaging standardization, individualized surgical planning, genetic risk stratification, and multidisciplinary care. In this Editorial, we summarize their contributions and discuss how they advance current paradigms in neuro-oncology and head-and-neck oncology.Vestibular schwannoma (previously also called acoustic neuroma) remains a central focus of skull base oncology being one of the most frequent cerebello-pontine angle tumors. In a narrative review, we provide (Frontiers | Treatment planning for patients with acoustic neuroma) an updated synthesis of key patient-specific factors-including hearing status, vestibular symptoms, tumor size and location, and growth dynamics-that guide patient-specific treatment decisions. We underscore the balance between observation, microsurgical resection, and stereotactic radiosurgery, stressing the need to incorporate both short-and long-term functional hearing and balance outcomes into shared decision-making.