Stereotactic radiosurgery for acoustic neuromas: a survey of the American Neurotology Society.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to better understand the complications, outcomes, and surgical difficulties in treating acoustic neuroma patients who have undergone stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS).


METHODS
A six-page, 28-item questionnaire was mailed to 395 members of the American Neurotology Society.


METHODS
The study was conducted through an academic neurotologic practice. Questionnaire respondents were neurotologic physicians in private and academic practice.


METHODS
A total of 46 patients who had undergone SRS were evaluated.


METHODS
Twelve (26%) of the 46 patients required microsurgery after SRS.


METHODS
Posttreatment cranial nerve status and the development of complications such as cerebrospinal fluid leak, meningitis, and cerebrovascular accident were evaluated.


RESULTS
In the group of 12 patients who underwent microsurgery after SRS, 11 patients had some form of postoperative facial paralysis. Anacusis was present in all 12 patients. Two of the 12 patients had new-onset trigeminal neuropathy postoperatively.


CONCLUSIONS
Microsurgical resection of acoustic neuroma after SRS is technically difficult. The difficulty exists regardless of the time of microsurgical resection after SRS. Patients who underwent microsurgery after SRS had uniformly poor cranial nerve results.
Battista
R A
RA
Department of Otolaryngology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Wiet
R J
RJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone / Q000379:methods; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods; D009464:Neuroma, Acoustic / Q000150:complications / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D010036:Otolaryngology; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome