Magnetic resonance imaging and neuropsychological testing after middle fossa vestibular schwannoma surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze temporal lobe gliosis and temporal lobe dysfunction after middle fossa vestibular schwannoma surgery.


METHODS
Temporal lobe analysis of a series of cases.


METHODS
Tertiary referral center.


METHODS
Thirty-two patients after enlarged middle fossa surgery (EMFS) and 20 subjects for control (preferably husbands/wives).


METHODS
Magnetic resonance evaluation of the temporal lobe and neuropsychological testing.


METHODS
Magnetic resonance imaging of the temporal lobe 1 year after treatment and neuropsychological testing (Berliner Amnesia Test [BAT], Boston Naming Test [BT], Token Test, Beck Depression Inventory, Freiburger Personality Inventory).


RESULTS
Temporal lobe gliosis after EMFS was observed in 22 of 32 analyzed patients (degree of gliosis: 11, slight; 9, moderate; 2, severe). Neuropsychological testing of 23 of the 32 previously analyzed patients after EMFS compared with control subjects (n=20) found only in few subdomains (figural score, personality test) statistically significant worse test results, but no major disturbances of the temporal lobe function compared with the control group. Only one patient with a finding of severe temporal lobe gliosis was proven in the BAT and BT to have a temporal lobe deficit.


CONCLUSIONS
In a significant number of patients, temporal lobe gliosis has to be expected after EMFS; however, the gliosis is only slight or moderate in most of the patients and not associated with essential functional deficits of the temporal lobe. Nevertheless, the possibility of a severe temporal lobe gliosis with functional deficits in the BAT and BT has to be taken into consideration.
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Institute of Radiology, Epilepsy Center, University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany. bernhard.schick@hno.imed.uni-erlangen.de
Bernhard
B
Schick
Holger
H
Greess
Simone
S
Gill
Elisabeth
E
Pauli
Heinrich
H
Iro
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000647:Amnesia / Q000523:psychology; D035301:Cranial Fossa, Middle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005911:Gliosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009464:Neuroma, Acoustic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D013506:Otologic Surgical Procedures; D010556:Personality Tests; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000523:psychology*; D011859:Radiography; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000502:physiology