A 45-Year-Old Woman Noticed Tinnitus in Her Left Ear Which

A 45-year-old woman noticed tinnitus in her left ear which progressed over some weeks to hearing loss in that ear. On physical examination she is found to have a marked decrease in hearing on the left, with Rinne test indicating air conduction better than bone conduction. The other cranial nerves I - VII and IX - XII are intact. A brain MRI scan revealed a solitary, fairly discreet, 3 cm mass located in the region of the left cerebellopontine angle. Which of the following statements is most appropriate to tell the patient regarding these findings?

A) A test for HIV-1 is likely to be positive
B) Other family members should undergo MR imaging of the brain
C) Remissions and exacerbations are likely to occur in coming years
D) The lesion can be resected with a good prognosis
E) You are unlikely to survive for more than a year