title: Audiological findings after stereotactic radiosurgery in acoustic neurinomas.
abstract: Stereotactic radiosurgery was used in the treatment of 126 patients with acoustic neurinomas up to 30 mm in diameter from 1969 to 1984. Adequate follow-up data (mean follow-up period 4.7 years) were available for 111 (116 ears) of these 126 patients; of these 111 patients, 64 (65 ears) had a pure-tone threshold of less than 90 dB before the treatment and were followed up audiologically. Preserved hearing was found in 26% of the ears one year postoperatively. Shrinkage of the tumour was obtained in 44% and arrest of its growth in 42%. There was no mortality related to the radiosurgical treatment. Transitory facial weakness was noted in 15% of the patients (3% in 1983-84). Eighteen per cent of the patients had some, usually transitory, trigeminal dysfunction. The stapedius reflex threshold was improved in 13 ears (20%). In one patient the audiological tests became pathological in the contralateral ear during growth of a new tumour. Initially the stapedius reflex threshold was elevated, and 11 months later the BRA pattern also became abnormal.
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology*; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009464:Neuroma, Acoustic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D013997:Time Factors