Patient choice in treatment of vestibular schwannoma.
OBJECTIVE
There are options available to patients newly diagnosed with vestibular schwannoma. Our institution employs stereotactic radiosurgery, microsurgical removal, and watchful waiting. There are no studies in the literature examining which of these treatment options patients are choosing.


METHODS
Using retrospective chart review from January 2000 through December 2001, we noted several variables and patients' initial treatment choices.


RESULTS
During the 24-month study period, 139 patients were seen at our institution with a new diagnosis of vestibular schwannoma and made a clear initial treatment choice. Of these, 32 (23%) patients elected watchful waiting; 51 (36%) underwent stereotactic radiosurgery, and 56 (40%) underwent surgical removal. Surgical excision correlated with younger age and larger tumor size.


CONCLUSIONS
Our initial hypothesis, that patients choosing treatment would choose stereotactic radiosurgery more than 50% of the time, was untrue for the time course studied.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first study to examine patient choice in treatment of vestibular schwannoma.
Pogodzinski
Matthew S
MS
Department of Otolaryngology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA. Pogodzinski.Matthew@mayo.edu
Harner
Stephen G
SG
Link
Michael J
MJ
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001299:Audiometry; D002755:Choice Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009464:Neuroma, Acoustic / Q000628:therapy*; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000523:psychology*; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index