Translabyrinthine Approach for Acoustic Neuroma

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.

1993 ◽  
Vol 108 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Herbert Silverstein ◽  
Seth I. Rosenberg ◽  
John M. Flanzer ◽  
Hayes H. Wanamaker ◽  
Michael D. Seidman

An algorithm has evolved for the management of patients with acoustic neuroma. Decisions as to surgery vs. observation, surgical approach, and whether hearing preservation should be attempted depend on age, patient symptoms, size of the tumor, residual hearing, and degree of facial nerve involvement at the time of surgery. Conservative management is used for patients over 65 years of age. This consists of observation or subtotal resection through a translabyrinthine approach, depending on the absence or presence of brainstem signs or symptoms. In patients under 65 years of age, hearing preservation is attempted through the retrosigmoid approach in tumors 1.5 cm or less if pure-tone average is less than 30 dB and the discrimination score is greater than 70%. The translabyrinthine approach is our preferred approach for tumors of any size when hearing is not serviceable. A near-total excision is performed when the facial nerve cannot be separated from the tumor. The rationale for this algorithm in the management of 130 cases of acoustic neuroma over the past 17 years is presented.


1978 ◽  
Vol 87 (6) ◽  
pp. 815-820 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth D. Dolan ◽  
Richard W. Babin ◽  
Charles G. Jacoby

During the past five years, nine patients with “significant” unilateral enlargement of one internal auditory canal by polytomography were subsequently found to have freely filling canals on contrast posterior fossa myelography. The radiographic appearance of the enlarged canals varied greatly and included all the various configurations usually suggestive of acoustic neuroma. Likewise, the clinical presentation varied greatly from asymptomatic to highly suggestive of cerebellopontine angle tumor. This series underscores the essential nature of posterior fossa studies in the evaluation of potential acoustic neuromas and the variability of the normal architecture of the internal auditory meatus.


1993 ◽  
Vol 108 (6) ◽  
pp. 671-679 ◽  
Author(s):  
John T. McElveen ◽  
Robert H. Wilkins ◽  
David W. Molter ◽  
Andrea C. Erwin ◽  
Robert D. Wolford

Removal of an acoustic neuroma using the translabyrinthine approach has previously been considered “Incompatible” with hearing preservation. By modifying the approach and preventing the loss of endolymph, we have successfully removed two Intracanallcular acoustic neuromas that originated from the inferior vestibular nerves, and preserved serviceable hearing in the ears operated on. This report represents the preliminary findings using this particular technique in the management of Intracanallcular acoustic neuromas.


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.


1985 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 168-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles H. Tator ◽  
Julian M. Nedzelski

✓ Microsurgical techniques have made it possible to identify and preserve the cochlear nerve from its origin at the brain stem and along its course through the internal auditory canal in patients undergoing removal of small or medium-sized acoustic neuromas or other cerebellopontine angle (CPA) tumors. In a consecutive series of 100 patients with such tumors operated on between 1975 and 1981, an attempt was made to preserve the cochlear nerve in 23. The decision to attempt to preserve hearing was based on tumor size and the degree of associated hearing loss. In cases of unilateral acoustic neuroma, the criteria for attempted preservation of hearing were tumor size (2.5 cm or less), speech reception threshold (50 dB or less), and speech discrimination score (60% or greater). In patients with bilateral acoustic neuromas or tumors of other types, the size and hearing criteria were significantly broadened. All patients were operated on through a suboccipital approach. Hearing was preserved postoperatively in six (31.6%) of the 19 patients with unilateral acoustic neuromas, although the cochlear nerve was preserved in 16. Of the six patients with postoperative hearing, three retained excellent hearing, and the other three had only sound awareness and poor discrimination. Hearing was preserved in three cases with other CPA tumors, including an epidermoid cyst and small petrous meningiomas in the internal auditory canal. Of the two cases with bilateral tumors, hearing was preserved in one. Of the 23 patients in whom hearing preservation was attempted, nine (39.1%) had some postoperative hearing, which in six was equal to or better than the preoperative level. Thus, it is worthwhile to attempt hearing preservation in selected patients with CPA tumors.


Author(s):  
Aditi Akhuj ◽  
Snehal Samal ◽  
Rakesh Krishna Kovela ◽  
Ragini Dagal ◽  
Rebecca Thimoty

Introduction: Acoustic neuromas are most common tumors of CP angle, accounting more than 90% of all such tumors. Meningioma, primary cholesteratoma and facial nerve schwanoma are the different type of tumors. Acoustic neuroma is a benign tumor situates in CP angle which has a fibrous growth and originates from the division of vestibulochochlear nerve. Aim: Impact of Balance Training and Co-ordination Exercises in Post-Operative Left Cerebellopontine Angle Tumor Case Presentation: A 40 year old male with right hand dominance was referred to physiotherapy department. On examination he presented mild impairment in balance and co-ordination, assisted walking. Discussion: This case report is an important to the published literature on rehabilitation of a patient witha CPA tumor, as it presents the sequential management in the patients post CPA tumor. Conclusion: Acoustic neuroma is most common CPA tumor. Management of CPA tumor is important to improve quality of life. As per the reference articles and the exercises planned can progressively improve balance and co-ordination of patients.


Skull Base ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 18 (S 01) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Martin ◽  
Konstance Tzifa ◽  
Caroline Kowalski ◽  
Roger Holder ◽  
Richard Walsh ◽  
...  

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.


1996 ◽  
Vol 115 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ltc Moises Arriaga ◽  
Maj Michael Gorum

A subset of patients with acoustic neuromas and useful hearing have tumors that are inadequately approached by both middle fossa and retrosigmoid techniques. The enhanced retrosigmoid technique combines the hearing preservation of posterior semicircular canal ablation to achieve lateral internal auditory canal exposure with the ample cerebellopontine angle exposure of the standard retrosigmoid technique.


2019 ◽  
Vol 130 (2) ◽  
pp. 388-397 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josa M. Frischer ◽  
Elise Gruber ◽  
Verena Schöffmann ◽  
Adolf Ertl ◽  
Romana Höftberger ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVEThe authors present long-term follow-up data on patients treated with Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) for acoustic neuroma.METHODSSix hundred eighteen patients were radiosurgically treated for acoustic neuroma between 1992 and 2016 at the Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University Vienna. Patients with neurofibromatosis and patients treated too recently to attain 1 year of follow-up were excluded from this retrospective study. Thus, data on 557 patients with spontaneous acoustic neuroma of any Koos grade are presented, as are long-term follow-up data on 426 patients with a minimum follow-up of 2 years. Patients were assessed according to the Gardner-Robertson (GR) hearing scale and the House-Brackmann facial nerve function scale, both prior to GKRS and at the times of follow-up.RESULTSFour hundred fifty-two patients (81%) were treated with radiosurgery alone and 105 patients (19%) with combined microsurgery-radiosurgery. While the combined treatment was especially favored before 2002, the percentage of cases treated with radiosurgery alone has significantly increased since then. The overall complication rate after GKRS was low and has declined significantly in the last decade. The risk of developing hydrocephalus after GKRS increased with tumor size. One case (0.2%) of malignant transformation after GKRS was diagnosed. Radiological tumor control rates of 92%, 91%, and 91% at 5, 10, and 15 years after GKRS, regardless of the Koos grade or pretreatment, were observed. The overall tumor control rate without the need for additional treatment was even higher at 98%. At the last follow-up, functional hearing was preserved in 55% of patients who had been classified with GR hearing class I or II prior to GKRS. Hearing preservation rates of 53%, 34%, and 34% at 5, 10, and 15 years after GKRS were observed. The multivariate regression model revealed that the GR hearing class prior to GKRS and the median dose to the cochlea were independent predictors of the GR class at follow-up.CONCLUSIONSIn small to medium-sized spontaneous acoustic neuromas, radiosurgery should be recognized as the primary treatment at an early stage. Although minimizing the cochlear dose seems beneficial for hearing preservation, the authors, like others before, do not recommend undertreating intracanalicular tumors in favor of low cochlear doses. For larger acoustic neuromas, radiosurgery remains a reliable management option with tumor control rates similar to those for smaller acoustic neuromas; however, careful patient selection and counseling are recommended given the higher risk of side effects. Microsurgery must be considered in acoustic neuromas with significant brainstem compression or hydrocephalus.


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