Huang CF, Tu HT, Lo HK, Wang KL, Liu WS

J Chin Med Assoc. 2005 Jul;68(7):315-20..

Department of Neurosurgery, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C. gamma@csh.org.tw

BACKGROUND: Radiosurgery has been established as an important alternative to microsurgery. We report our experience with radiosurgery for tumor control and the complications of unilateral vestibular schwannomas. METHODS: We reviewed our early experience regarding clinical presentation, management and outcomes in 45 patients with acoustic schwannomas who underwent gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery. The median follow-up period was 25 months (range, 6-48 months). Thirteen patients had undergone 1 or more previous resections before radiosurgery; 32 underwent radiosurgery as the first procedure. Median tumor volume was 4.5 mL (range, 0.5-30.0), and median radiotherapy dose was 11.5 Gy (range, 10.5-14.0 Gy). RESULTS: Tumor control was achieved in 43 patients (95.6%). Loss of central contrast enhancement was a characteristic change and was noted in 29 patients (64.4%). Reduction in tumor size was shown in 15 patients (33.3%). Thirteen patients (28.9%) had good or serviceable hearing preoperatively, and in all of these, the preoperative status was retained immediately after radiosurgery. At follow-up, however, 10 patients (76.9%) had preserved hearing and 3 (23.1%) had reduced hearing on the treated side. Hearing in 1 patient that was not serviceable preoperatively later improved to a serviceable level. No patients had delayed facial palsy or lower cranial nerve dysfunction, but one had delayed trigeminal sensory loss. CONCLUSION: Radiosurgery achieved a high tumor control rate and a relatively low post-radiosurgical complication rate for acoustic neuromas.<

This abstract is being posted for educational purposes, as well as for comment and criticism, by the visitors to the Acoustic Neuroma Foundation website. This abstract is representative of a larger article that is indexed on Medline.

Men's Health Web Ring

    SurvivingProstateCancer
      WithoutSurgery.org

  VasectomyFoundation.org

   Prostatitis Foundation
    ( Prostatitis.org)

Disclaimer: Information provided on this web site is for educatonal purposes only. It is not a substitute for, nor can it replace advice from your own physician. The information on this site is not to be used for diagnosing or treating any health concerns that you may have. You must see your own physician for diagnosis and treatment. Furthermore, the information on this site is never guaranteed to be 100% accurate or 100% up to date. All the side effects of mentioned treatments, drugs, surgeries, or therapies cannot always be listed or be known. Errors and omissions may occur in any essay. See a competent physician for your health care needs.
http://www.acousticneuromafoundation.org™ Established December 11, 2002