Quality of Life in 807 Patients with Vestibular Schwannoma: Comparing Treatment Modalities.
Objective In vestibular schwannoma treatment, the choice among treatment modalities is controversial. The first aim of this study was to examine the quality of life of patients with vestibular schwannoma having undergone observation, radiation therapy, or microsurgical resection. The second aim was to examine the relationship between perceived symptoms and quality of life. Last, the association between quality of life and time since treatment was studied. Study Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Tertiary referral center. Subjects and Methods A total of 1208 patients treated for sporadic vestibular schwannoma between 2004 and 2014 were mailed the disease-specific Penn Acoustic Neuroma Quality of Life (PANQOL) questionnaire and additional questions on symptoms associated with vestibular schwannoma. Total and domain scores were calculated and compared among treatment groups. Propensity scores were used, and results were stratified according to tumor size to control for potential confounders. Correlations were calculated to examine the relationship between self-reported symptoms and quality of life, as well as between quality of life and time since treatment. Results Patients with small tumors (≤10 mm) under observation showed a higher PANQOL score when compared with the radiation therapy and microsurgical resection groups. A strong negative correlation was found between self-reported symptoms and quality of life, with balance problems and vertigo having the largest impact. No correlation was found between PANQOL score and time since treatment. Conclusion This study suggests that patients with small vestibular schwannomas experience better quality of life when managed with observation than do patients who have undergone active treatment.
1 Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
Géke
G
Soulier
1 Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
Bibian M
BM
van Leeuwen
2 Department of Medical Statistics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
Hein
H
Putter
1 Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
Jeroen C
JC
Jansen
3 Department of Neurosurgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
Martijn J A
MJA
Malessy
1 Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
Peter Paul G
PPG
van Benthem
1 Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
Andel G L
AGL
van der Mey
4 Department of Medical Decision Making, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
Anne M
AM
Stiggelbout
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009464:Neuroma, Acoustic / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
PANQOL; quality of life; treatment; vestibular schwannoma