title: Longitudinal assessment of quality of life and audiometric test outcomes in vestibular schwannoma patients treated with gamma knife surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To prospectively assess the quality of life (QOL) and hearing acuity in vestibular schwannoma (VS) patients after gamma knife surgery (GKS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-nine VS patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  GKS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective follow-up algorithm included 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), Hearing Handicap Inventory (HHI), Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), pure-tone average, and speech discrimination hearing scores (Gardner-Robertson and American Academy of Otolaryngology), performed before and after GKS at 1-, 3-, 6-, 12-, and 18-month posttreatment intervals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From December 2006 to November 2008, 59 VS patients were treated with a median follow-up of 15 months. At baseline, mean scores for SF-36, HHI, DHI, and THI were 73, 37, 17, and 23, respectively. Median baseline Gardner-Robertson and American Academy of Otolaryngology hearing acuity scores were 2 and B, respectively. No significant decline in SF-36 health survey was noted after GKS. Mean SF-36 score at baseline was 73, compared with a range of 70 to 77 at predetermined posttreatment intervals. Similarly, no significant changes in DHI, HHI, and THI were noted. Approximately 47% of patients with baseline serviceable hearing maintained serviceable hearing at 12 months. Significant acute and chronic worsening in hearing acuity were noted at 1 and 18 months, respectively. No correlative decline in QOL was noted as assessed by SF-36 or HHI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No significant decline in global QOL occurred after GKS with relatively short follow-up and approximately 50% survey completion. When discussing therapy options with VS patients, anticipated treatment-related QOL outcomes should be considered.
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan 48073, USA.
authors: Sean S
authors: SS
authors: Park
authors: Inga Siiner
authors: IS
authors: Grills
authors: Dennis
authors: D
authors: Bojrab
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Pieper
authors: Jack
authors: J
authors: Kartush
authors: Ann
authors: A
authors: Maitz
authors: Arturo
authors: A
authors: Martin
authors: Evelyn
authors: E
authors: Perez
authors: Yoav
authors: Y
authors: Hahn
authors: Hong
authors: H
authors: Ye
authors: Alvaro
authors: A
authors: Martinez
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001299:Audiometry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009464:Neuroma, Acoustic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D016634:Radiosurgery / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome