Long-Term Hearing Outcomes From Gamma Knife Treatment for Vestibulocochlear Nerve Schwannomas in a Large, Tertiary Care, Academic Hospital.

OBJECTIVE

Describe long-term hearing outcomes with audiologic data with modern stereotactic radiosurgery techniques for vestibular schwannoma tumors.

BACKGROUND

Since the mid-20th century, stereotactic radiosurgery has been an option for central nervous system tumors. Due to the non-invasive manner of treatment, this was extended to treatment for benign vestibular schwannomas without intracranial surgery. Modern advances have localized radiation and reduced dosage, but data are still lacking in the long-term hearing outcomes of this method of treatment. As one of the national leaders in this procedure, we present our full database of these outcomes over the full time period of our institutions utility of this modality.

METHODS

A retrospective review was performed of all patients undergoing stereotactic radiotherapy for vestibular schwannomas within the study period of 1998 to 2019 and their audiograms analyzed along with patient data. Laterality Gardner-Robertson hearing score changes were the primary outcome analyzed for each patient; and controls were placed to accommodate for patient demographic data.

RESULTS

Long-term, multi-year audiometric evaluation showed statistically significant loss of serviceable hearing and reduction in hearing ability with the use of stereotactic radiosurgery for treatment of vestibular schwannomas.

CONCLUSIONS

Little long-term data exists on the audiometric outcomes related to stereotactic radiosurgery treatment for vestibular schwannomas. Our institution has performed more than 300 stereotactic radiosurgery treatments showing a continued reduction over time in serviceable hearing. Practitioners should advise patients undergoing treatment for vestibular schwannomas with this treatment of long-term results.