Acoustic neuroma: An investigation of associations between tumor size and diagnostic delays, facial weakness, and surgical complications

Association between socioeconomic indicators and geographic distribution of vestibular schwannomas in West Scotland: a 15-year review

OBJECTIVE

Socioeconomic risk factors may contribute to geographic variation in diseases, but studies are limited due to lack of large available cohorts.

METHOD

A geographic analysis was performed of the association between socioeconomic risk factors and the distribution of vestibular schwannomas in adults diagnosed with sporadic vestibular schwannomas through the National Health Services in the West of Scotland from 2000 to 2015.

RESULTS

A total of 511 sporadic vestibular schwannomas were identified in a population of over 3.1 million. Prevalence of vestibular schwannomas were lowest in cases with good health (-0.64, 95 per cent confidence interval: -0.93,-0.38; p = 0.002) and level 1 qualifications (-0.562, 95 per cent confidence interval: -0.882 to -0.26; p = 0.01). However, these risk factors did not demonstrate consistent linearity of correlations. Prevalence was lower in people originating from European Union accession countries from April 2001 to March 2011 (-0.63, 95 per cent confidence interval: -0.84 to -0.43; p = 0.002). No correlation between distribution of vestibular schwannomas and socioeconomic risk factors met our threshold criteria (± 0.7).

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that there is little variation in distribution of vestibular schwannomas by socioeconomic risk factors.

Facial Nerve Outcomes After Vestibular Schwannoma Microsurgical Resection in Neurofibromatosis Type 2

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to investigate facial nerve outcomes after microsurgical resection in neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) compared to sporadic tumors.

STUDY DESIGN

Single institutional retrospective chart review.

SETTING

Tertiary referral center.

METHODS

All adult patients with NF2 vestibular schwannoma (VS) or sporadic VS who underwent microsurgical resection from 2008 to 2019 with preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 1 year of postsurgical follow-up were included. The primary outcome measure was postoperative House-Brackmann (HB) facial nerve score measured at first postoperative visit and after at least 10 months.

RESULTS

In total, 161 sporadic VSs and 14 NF2 VSs met inclusion criteria. Both median tumor diameter (NF2, 33.5 mm vs sporadic, 24 mm, P = .0011) and median tumor volume (NF2, 12.4 cm³ vs sporadic, 2.9 cm³, P = .0005) were significantly greater in patients with NF2. The median follow-up was 24.9 months (range, 12-130.1). Median facial nerve function after 1 year for patients with NF2 was HB 3 (range, 1-6) compared to HB 1 (range, 1-6) for sporadic VS (P = .001). With multivariate logistic regression, NF2 tumors (odds ratio [OR] = 13.9, P = .001) and tumor volume ≥3 cm³ (OR = 3.6, P = .025) were significantly associated with HB ≥3 when controlling for age, sex, extent of tumor resection, translabyrinthine approach, and prior radiation.

CONCLUSION

Tumor volume >3 cm³ and NF2 tumors are associated with poorer facial nerve outcomes 1 year following microsurgical resection.

Risk factors for postoperative meningitis after microsurgery for vestibular schwannoma

OBJECTIVE

Meningitis after microsurgery for vestibular schwannoma (VS) is a severe complication that results in high morbidity. However, few studies have focused on meningitis after VS surgery. The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors for meningitis after VS surgery.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of all VS patients who underwent microsurgery and survived for at least 7 days after surgery, between 1 June 2015 and 30 November 2018 at West China Hospital of Sichuan University. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the risk factors for postoperative meningitis (POM).

RESULTS

We enrolled 410 patients, 27 of whom had POM. Through univariate analysis, the factors of hydrocephalus (p = 0.018), Koos grade IV (p = 0.04), operative duration > 3 hours (p = 0.03) and intraoperative bleeding volume ≥400 ml (p = 0. 02) were significantly correlated with POM. The multivariate analysis showed that Koos grade IV (p = 0.04; OR = 3.19; 95% CI 1.032-3.190), operation duration > 3 hours (p = 0.03; OR = 7.927; 95% CI 1.043-60.265), and intraoperative bleeding volume ≥ 400 ml (p = 0.02; OR = 2.551; 95% CI 1.112-5.850) were the independent influencing factors of POM.

CONCLUSIONS

Koos grade IV, operation duration > 3 hours, and intraoperative blood loss ≥ 400 ml were identified as independent risk factors for POM after microsurgery for VS. POM also caused a prolonged hospital stay.

Incidence of Prolonged Systemic Steroid Treatment after Surgery for Acoustic Neuroma and Its Implications

Objectives  To determine the incidence of prolonged postoperative systemic corticosteroid therapy after surgery for acoustic neuroma as well as the indications and associated risk factors that could lead to prolonged steroid administration, and the incidence of steroid-related adverse effects. Study Designs  Retrospective chart review. Methods  Retrospective chart review of patients undergoing resection of acoustic neuroma between 2010 and 2017 at two tertiary care medical centers. Patient and tumor characteristics, operative approach, hospital length of stay, initial postoperative taper length, number of discrete postoperative steroid courses, and postoperative complications were analyzed. Results  There were 220 patients (99 male, 121 female) with an average age of 49.4 (range 16-78). There were 124 left-sided tumors and 96 right-sided tumors. Within the group, 191 tumors were operated through a retrosigmoid approach, 25 tumors through a translabyrinthine approach, and 4 tumors with a combined retrosigmoid-translabyrinthine approach under the same anesthetic. In total, 35 (15.9%) patients received an extended initial course of postoperative systemic steroids, defined as a taper longer than 18 days. Twenty six (11.8%) patients received additional courses of systemic steroids after the initial postoperative taper. There were 5 (2.3%) patients who required an extended initial taper as well as additional courses of steroids. Aseptic meningitis, often manifested as headache, was the most common indication for additional steroids (14 cases of prolonged taper and 17 cases of additional courses). None of the patient or tumor factors including age, gender, side, size, and approach were statistically significantly associated with either a prolonged initial steroid taper or additional courses of steroids. An extended hospital length of stay was associated with a prolonged initial steroid taper ( p  = 0.03), though the initial taper length was not predictive of additional courses of steroids. The cumulative number of days on steroids was associated with need for additional procedures ( p  < 0.01) as well as steroid-related side effects ( p  = 0.05). The administration of steroids was not found to significantly improve outcomes in postoperative facial paresis. Steroid-related complications were uncommon, seen in 9.26% of patients receiving steroids, with the most common being psychiatric side effects such as agitation, anxiety, and mood lability. Conclusions Systemic corticosteroids are routinely administered postoperatively for patients undergoing craniotomy for the resection of acoustic neuromas. In a review of 220 patients operated by a single neurotologist, no patient or tumor factors were predictive of requiring prolonged initial steroid taper or additional courses of steroids. The cumulative number of days on systemic steroids was associated with undergoing additional procedures and steroid-related side effects. The most common indications for prolonged or additional steroids were aseptic meningitis, cerebrospinal fluid leak, and facial paresis. Additional steroids for postoperative facial paresis did not significantly improve outcomes. Patient-reported steroid-related complications were infrequent and were most commonly psychiatric including agitation, anxiety, and mood lability.

Influence of Posterior Fossa Volume on Clinical Outcomes After Vestibular Schwannoma Resection

OBJECTIVES

To determine the influence of posterior fossa dimensions on surgical outcomes after vestibular schwannoma management.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective chart review.

SETTING

Tertiary care academic medical center.

PATIENTS

Patients with sporadic vestibular schwannomas who underwent surgical resection via retrosigmoid or translabyrinthine techniques.

INTERVENTIONS

Diagnostic.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

One and two-way analysis of variance (ANOVAs) of the cohort based on volumetric and clinical outcome groupings.

RESULTS

A total of 95 patients were identified. A one-way ANOVA looking at the entire cohort of patients showed that outcomes like surgical time (p < 0.001) and whether a Good Outcome (House-Brackmann score of 1 or 2, no complications, and a complete resection) was achieved (p = 0.009) correlated very well with preoperative tumor volume, but not with posterior fossa volume (p = 0.412 and p = 0.345, respectively). However, in medium sized tumors, House-Brackmann group was correlated with posterior fossa volume (p = 0.032).

CONCLUSIONS

The present data suggest a small effect of posterior fossa size on some clinical outcomes in medium sized vestibular schwannomas.