title: The best candidates for nerve-sparing stripping surgery for facial nerve schwannoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Clinical decision making for facial nerve schwannoma is particularly complicated in patients with good facial nerve function; however, an early nerve-sparing tumor resection stripping technique minimizes facial deficits associated with treatment. The present study characterized the optimal candidate for this nerve-sparing surgical strategy in patients with good facial function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nerve-sparing stripping surgery was performed on 28 patients with facial nerve schwannoma. The House-Brackmann grading system was used to assess pre- and postoperative facial function. We retrospectively analyzed pre- and postoperative facial function, duration of facial palsy, tumor size, and location and number of involved segments. The data were analyzed using Fisher exact test and independent t tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 28 patients, 18 successfully underwent stripping surgery and 16 had a favorable outcome. Favorable postoperative facial function was associated with good preoperative facial function (House-Brackmann grade [HBG] ≤II); small, localized tumors; and tumors located in the geniculate ganglion and/or its proximal portion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with facial nerve schwannoma who have good preoperative facial function (HBG ≤2), tumor located in the proximal portion of the geniculate ganglion, and small tumors (<2 cm) involving one or two facial nerve segments can be the best candidates for nerve-sparing stripping surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  4
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Keimyung University College of Medicine, Daegu.
authors.forename: Soon H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: In S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Won S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003390:Cranial Nerve Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D059351:Organ Sparing Treatments / Q000379:methods*; D018579:Patient Selection; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011379:Prognosis; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Facial nerve; facial palsy; schwannoma