Long-term control of vestibular schwannoma after a translabyrinthine complete removal.
OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to determine the rate of recurrent vestibular schwannoma after a total removal via the translabyrinthine approach.


METHODS
Between 1973 and 1995, 346 patients were operated on by a translabyrinthine approach. Ninety-one patients were included in a retrospective study for follow-up of 5 years or longer.


RESULTS
The mean follow-up period for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination was obtained after mean of 11 years in 91 patients. None of the 91 patients experienced a recurrent vestibular schwannoma on MRI.


CONCLUSIONS
The translabyrinthine approach is a safe procedure for total definitive removal of a vestibular schwannoma and permitted the absence of tumoral recurrence in our series of 91 patients. A single gadolinium-enhanced MRI scan 5 years after surgery is advised in case of total removal. In case of any doubt about the quality of the tumoral removal, a proposed MRI follow-up schedule within 2 years and 5 years of surgery is an initial baseline pattern, and possibly thereafter repeated MRI examinations on clinical grounds.
Schmerber
Sébastien
S
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital of Grenoble, Grenoble, France. SSchmerber@chu-grenoble.fr
Palombi
Olivier
O
Boubagra
Kamel
K
Charachon
Robert
R
Chirossel
Jean-Paul
JP
Gay
Emmanuel
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004428:Ear Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007759:Labyrinth Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery*; D009464:Neuroma, Acoustic / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery*; D013506:Otologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors