Neurotologic follow-up after radiation of posterior fossa tumors.
OBJECTIVE
Stereotactic radiation treatment, also known as gamma knife surgery or radiosurgery, has come into acceptance as a treatment alternative to surgical removal for posterior fossa tumors. The purpose of this article is to describe the role of the neurotologist in the optimal management of neurotologic complications after stereotactic radiation, as illustrated by five patients.


METHODS
Retrospective chart review.


METHODS
Five patients who underwent stereotactic radiation of posterior fossa tumors.


METHODS
Presence or absence of neurotologic complications (tumor growth, hearing loss, imbalance/ataxia, vertigo, and facial paralysis) or neurosurgical complaints (facial numbness, motor weakness, headache, hydrocephalus, and subarachnoid cysts).


RESULTS
Postradiation neurotologic complaints included vertigo, imbalance/ataxia, and progressive hearing loss in four of the five patients. Continued tumor growth occurred in two patients; two patients had no growth; in one patient the tumor became smaller. The complications of facial nerve paralysis, facial numbness, motor weakness, headache, hydrocephalus, cerebellar edema, and posterior fossa arachnoid cyst formation occurred less frequently.


CONCLUSIONS
Stereotactic radiation of posterior fossa tumors can produce significant neurotologic problems. It is imperative that neurotologists remain involved in the follow-up care of patients with posterior fossa tumors to offer optimal treatment alternatives for the neurotologic disorders.
Jackson
C
C
House Ear Center Newport, Newport Beach, California, USA.
Doyle
K J
KJ
Shohet
J
J
Robinson
J
J
D000368:Aged; D001259:Ataxia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006316:Hearing Loss, High-Frequency / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D015192:Infratentorial Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008579:Meningioma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D016634:Radiosurgery / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies