Hi Nycnewbie and Geri,
Both teams are equally good at removing the tumor this size ( < 2cm). I don't believe you absolutely have to travel to LA unless you want to because the expertise is there locally. I think the most important decision should be based on your comfort level with the doctors involved and whether or not you believe they will do a good job.
An additional consideration for anybody young ( definitely Nycnewbie and sorry geri I don't know your age) is hearing preservation. This is because many things could happen to you in your life one of which can affect your other ear and rob you of any hearing if AN ear is already deaf. Another possibility, which is hard to think about, is NF2. An AN at this before 30 years of age is one of the red flags for NF2.
Middle fossa is attempted for hearing preservation purposes, so that means your hearing is considered good enough to be salvageable. Retrosigmoid can also be used for hearing preservation but only if surgeon intends to uses it this way. Please, ask how he plans to do it. It is really important in your case.
Either way, you should get references of people whose hearing has been preserved if you decide that this is a goal.
Hope it helped. Best wishes with your choice!
Eve
