The Price of Preservation of Hearing in Acoustic Neuroma Surgery

1982 ◽  
Vol 91 (3) ◽  
pp. 240-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirko Tos ◽  
Jens Thomsen

Translabyrinthine surgery for acoustic neuroma was introduced in Denmark in 1976, and the results of the first 100 operations are presented. Two deaths occurred, unrelated to the translabyrinthine surgery. Postoperatively, 75% of the patients had normal facial function, while function was reduced in 15% and abolished in 10%. The series represents 85% of all acoustic neuromas operated in Denmark, with 30 new neuromas being diagnosed each year, derived from a population of 5.1 million. The overall postoperative results are compared with the available results from suboccipital removals of acoustic neuromas, and are clearly in favor of the translabyrinthine approach. It is concluded that centralization of acoustic neuroma surgery is necessary, that all acoustic neuromas regardless of size can be removed by the translabyrinthine approach and that the discussion about the hypothetical preservation of hearing by applying the suboccipital approach is being made without solid grounds. To adduce the theoretical chance of preserving hearing in a very small percentage of patients as an argument in favor of the suboccipital approach appears quite irrelevant, and the price of attempting this with the suboccipital approach is too high.

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. e0253338
Author(s):  
Kuan-Wei Chiang ◽  
Sanford P. C. Hsu ◽  
Tsui-Fen Yang ◽  
Mao-Che Wang

Objectives Many studies have investigated the surgical outcome and predictive factors of acoustic neuroma using different approaches. The present study focused on large tumors due to the greater likelihood of internal acoustic meatus involvement and the greater application of surgical intervention than radiosurgery. There have been no previous reports on outcomes of internal acoustic meatus tumor removal. We investigated the impact of the extent of internal acoustic meatus tumor removal using a translabyrinthine approach for large acoustic neuroma surgery and predictive factors of tumor control. Methods This retrospective study reviewed 104 patients with large cerebellopontine angle tumor >3 cm treated by translabyrinthine approach microsurgery. Predictive factors of postoperative facial palsy, tumor control, and extent of internal acoustic meatus tumor removal were assessed. Results The mean tumor size was 38.95 ± 6.83 mm. Postoperative facial function showed 76.9% acceptable function (House–Brackmann grade 1 or 2) six months after surgery. The extent of internal acoustic meatus tumor removal was a statistically significant predictor factor of poor postoperative facial function. Younger age, larger tumor size needing radiosurgery, and more extensive removal of tumor were associated with better tumor control. Conclusion More extensive internal acoustic meatus tumor removal was associated with poor postoperative facial function and better tumor control.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 391-396 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Diaz Day ◽  
Douglas A. Chen ◽  
Moises Arriaga

Abstract THE TRANSLABYRINTHINE APPROACH has been popularized during the past 30 years for the surgical treatment of acoustic neuromas. It serves as an alternative to the retrosigmoid approach in patients when hearing preservation is not a primary consideration. Patients with a tumor of any size may be treated by the translabyrinthine approach. The corridor of access to the cerebellopontine angle is shifted anteriorly in contrast to the retrosigmoid approach, resulting in minimized retraction of the cerebellum. Successful use of the approach relies on a number of technical nuances that are outlined in this article.


1989 ◽  
Vol 103 (9) ◽  
pp. 842-844 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. K. Robson ◽  
P. M. Clarke ◽  
M. Dilkes ◽  
A. R. Maw

AbstractAcoustic neuromas may be resected either by a suboccipital craniectomy or translabyrinthine approach; the latter gives good access without unduly traumatising the brainstem, but can lead to a higher incidence of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks. The surgical management of these leaks can be difficult; we describe a transmastoid extracranial technique using pedicled sternomastoid muscle that has produced complete resolution of the leak in all cases managed in this way.


2003 ◽  
Vol 99 (5) ◽  
pp. 818-823 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone A. Betchen ◽  
Jane Walsh ◽  
Kalmon D. Post

Object. The aim of this study was to determine if factors such as postoperative hearing, facial function, headaches, or other factors have an impact on self-assessed quality of life (QOL) after acoustic neuroma surgery. Methods. The SF-36 and seven additional questions on the impact of surgery on the QOL were sent to 135 consecutive patients who had undergone acoustic neuroma surgery. The Spearman rho correlations were calculated for each of the eight categories of the SF-36 (general health, physical functioning, physical role limitations, emotional role limitations, mental health, energy/vitality, pain, social functioning). The results were correlated with patients' sex, age, persistent headache, years since surgery, postoperative hearing level, and facial function. The response rate was 74.8%. The transformed scores of the eight categories of the SF-36 were lower than age-matched healthy controls in approximately half of the categories. The strongest trend toward lower scores with statistical significance in two categories was persistent headaches. Some categories demonstrated trends toward lower scores with females or age older than 55 years. Postoperative hearing and facial functioning, and time since surgery showed no statistically significant impact on QOL measured by the SF-36. Responses to the additional questions indicate that hearing, facial function, and headache influenced people's feelings about surgery and had an impact on their return to work. Conclusions. The QOL scores are not consistently lower than population normative values compared with different normative studies. The strongest correlation was between the presence of persistent headache and QOL. Other correlations were not consistent in all categories, and few were statistically significant. These trends in some categories do not explain the difference seen between patients after acoustic neuroma surgery in this study and normal populations in other studies.


1993 ◽  
Vol 107 (12) ◽  
pp. 1119-1121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Buchwald ◽  
Mirko Tos ◽  
Jens Thomsen ◽  
Henrik MØller ◽  
Agnete Parving

This investigation was performed in order to evaluate the observer variations in facial nerve function after surgery for an acoustic neuroma. From 1976–90, 507 patients were operated on by the same surgical team (M.T. and J.T.) using a translabyrinthine approach. One hundred and forty-four patients living in Copenhagen City and County were invited for interview and objective examination. Only 128 patients attended the interview and examination which were carried out by the same ENT physician. Data concerning observation of the facial nerve function only is presented. Its function was clinically evaluated (using the House and Brackmann (1985) grading scale) by two different observers i.e the ENT physician and one of the surgeons. The patients were asked face-to-face with the ENT physician to estimate the degree of facial nerve function according to a 0–100 per cent scale. Comparing normal and abolished facial nerve function the judgments of the ENT physician and the surgeon agreed with the patient‘s own evaluation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 80 (S 03) ◽  
pp. S267-S268
Author(s):  
James K. Liu ◽  
Vincent N. Dodson ◽  
Robert W. Jyung

The translabyrinthine approach is advantageous for the resection of large acoustic neuromas compressing the brainstem when hearing loss is nonserviceable. This approach provides wide access through the presigmoid corridor without prolonged cerebellar retraction. Early identification of the facial nerve at the fundus is also achieved. In this operative video atlas manuscript, the authors demonstrate a step-by-step technique for microsurgical resection of a large cystic acoustic neuroma via a translabyrinthine approach. The nuances of microsurgical and skull base technique are illustrated including performing extracapsular dissection of the tumor while maintaining a subperineural plane of dissection to preserve the facial nerve. This strategy maximizes the extent of removal while preserving facial nerve function. A microscopic remnant of tumor was left adherent to the perineurium. A near-total resection of the tumor was achieved and the facial nerve stimulated briskly at low thresholds. Other than preexisting hearing loss, the patient was neurologically intact with normal facial nerve function postoperatively. In summary, the translabyrinthine approach and the use of subperineural dissection are important strategies in the armamentarium for surgical management of large acoustic neuromas while preserving facial nerve function.The link to the video can be found at: https://youtu.be/zld2cSP8fb8.


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