Facial nerve function after vestibular schwannoma surgery

2011 ◽  
Vol 115 (4) ◽  
pp. 820-826 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maurizio Falcioni ◽  
Paolo Fois ◽  
Abdelkader Taibah ◽  
Mario Sanna
Keyword(s):  
Facial Nerve ◽  
Vestibular Schwannoma ◽  
Tumor Size ◽  
Middle Cranial Fossa ◽  
Optimal Size ◽  
Tumor Diameter ◽  
Nerve Function ◽  
Facial Nerve Function ◽  
Tumor Removal ◽  
Total Tumor Removal

Object The object of this study was to evaluate long-term postoperative facial nerve (FN) function in patients undergoing vestibular schwannoma (VS) surgery. Methods The authors retrospectively reviewed the clinical course of patients affected by isolated VSs with normal preoperative FN function, with no previous surgical or radiotherapeutic treatment, and who underwent surgery between 1987 and 2007. Facial nerve function was clinically evaluated according to the House-Brackmann (HB) scale. The minimum postoperative follow-up was 12 months. Results Among the 1550 patients surgically treated at the authors' center, 1151 matched inclusion criteria for the present study. The FN was anatomically interrupted in 48 cases (4.2%), and 51 patients (4.4%) underwent subtotal tumor removal and were considered separately. Among the 1052 patients with anatomically preserved FNs and total tumor removal, 684 (65%) enjoyed postoperative HB Grade I or II and 309 (29.4%) enjoyed Grade III, with the remaining 59 cases (5.6%) suffering unsatisfactory results (HB Grades IV–VI). As expected, FN function results deteriorated in cases of larger tumors. Conclusions The main factor influencing postoperative FN function was tumor size. Although there was a progressive deterioration in FN function outcome in relation to tumor size, a cutoff point between satisfactory and unsatisfactory results could be identified at around 2 cm in maximum extrameatal tumor diameter, with the “optimal size” for surgery identified at < 1 cm. This finding emphasizes the importance of an early diagnosis and should be kept in mind when selecting the correct timing for VS removal. For small lesions, the results following a middle cranial fossa approach were significantly worse as compared with those following the translabyrinthine and retrosigmoidretrolabyrinthine approaches.

scholarly journals Long-Term Facial Nerve Outcomes after Microsurgical Resection of Vestibular Schwannomas in Patients with Preoperative Facial Nerve Palsy

2017 ◽  
Vol 79 (03) ◽  
pp. 309-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Mooney ◽  
Benjamin Hendricks ◽  
Christina Sarris ◽  
Robert Spetzler ◽  
Randall Porter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Facial Nerve ◽  
Vestibular Schwannoma ◽  
Nerve Palsy ◽  
Facial Nerve Palsy ◽  
Tumor Diameter ◽  
Nerve Function ◽  
Facial Nerve Function ◽  
Microsurgical Resection ◽  
Grade Iii

Objectives This study aimed at evaluating facial nerve outcomes in vestibular schwannoma patients presenting with preoperative facial nerve palsy. Design A retrospective review. Setting Single-institution cohort. Participants Overall, 368 consecutive patients underwent vestibular schwannoma resection. Patients with prior microsurgery or radiosurgery were excluded. Main Outcome Measures Incidence, House–Brackmann grade. Results Of 368 patients, 9 had confirmed preoperative facial nerve dysfunction not caused by prior treatment, for an estimated incidence of 2.4%. Seven of these nine patients had Koos grade 4 tumors. Mean tumor diameter was 3.0 cm (range: 2.1–4.4 cm), and seven of nine tumors were subtotally resected. All nine patients were followed up clinically for ≥ 6 months. Of the six patients with a preoperative House–Brackmann grade of II, two improved to grade I, three were stable, and one patient worsened to grade III. Of the three patients with grade III or worse, all remained stable at last follow-up. Conclusions Preoperative facial nerve palsy is rare in patients with vestibular schwannoma; it tends to occur in patients with relatively large lesions. Detailed long-term outcomes of facial nerve function after microsurgical resection for these patients have not been reported previously. We followed nine patients and found that eight (89%) of the nine patients had either stable or improved facial nerve outcomes after treatment. Management strategies varied for these patients, including rates of subtotal versus gross-total resection and the use of stereotactic radiosurgery in patients with residual tumor. These results can be used to help counsel patients preoperatively on expected outcomes of facial nerve function after treatment.

scholarly journals Long-term facial nerve clinical evaluation following vestibular schwannoma surgery

2008 ◽  
Vol 66 (2a) ◽  
pp. 194-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafaela Julia Batista Veronezi ◽  
Yvens Barbosa Fernandes ◽  
Guilherme Borges ◽  
Ricardo Ramina
Keyword(s):  
Facial Nerve ◽  
Vestibular Schwannoma ◽  
Tumor Size ◽  
Nerve Function ◽  
Facial Nerve Function ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Long Term Follow Up ◽  
Facial Function

BACKGROUND: Facial function is important in accompaniment of patients operated on vestibular schwannoma (VS). OBJETIVE: To evaluate long term facial nerve function in patients undergoing VS resection and to correlate tumor size and facial function in a long-term follow-up. METHOD: Transversal study of 20 patients with VS operated by the retrosigmoid approach. House-Brackmann Scale was used preoperatively, immediately after surgery and in a long-term follow-up. Student t test was applied for statistic analysis. RESULTS: In the immediate postoperative evaluation, 65% of patients presented FP of different grades. Improvement of facial nerve function (at least of one grade) occurred in 53% in the long-term follow-up. There was statistically significant difference in facial nerve outcome in long-term follow-up when tumor size was considered (p<0.05). Conclusion: The majority of patients had improvement of FP in a long-term follow-up and tumor size was detected to be a factor associated with the postoperative prognostic.

Preservation of Function in Vestibular Schwannoma Surgery

2007 ◽  
Vol 60 (suppl_2) ◽  
pp. ONS-124-ONS-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alireza Gharabaghi ◽  
Amir Samii ◽  
Andrei Koerbel ◽  
Steffen K. Rosahl ◽  
Marcos Tatagiba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surgical Technique ◽  
Facial Nerve ◽  
Vestibular Schwannoma ◽  
Acoustic Neuroma ◽  
Patient Positioning ◽  
Nerve Function ◽  
Facial Nerve Function ◽  
Tumor Removal ◽  
Presurgical Evaluation ◽  
Microsurgical Techniques

Abstract THE MANAGEMENT AND surgical technique for microsurgical tumor removal of vestibular schwannomas (acoustic neuroma) with the suboccipital retrosigmoid approach and semi-sitting patient positioning is described. An emphasis is placed on the preservation of auditory and facial nerve function with a stepwise description of the technical and operative nuances, including presurgical evaluation, positioning, anesthesiological and neurophysiological aspects, approach, microsurgical techniques, and postsurgical care.

Delayed facial palsy after resection of vestibular schwannoma

2002 ◽  
Vol 97 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald A. Grant ◽  
Robert R. Rostomily ◽  
D. Kyle Kim ◽  
Marc R. Mayberg ◽  
Donald Farrell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Facial Nerve ◽  
Vestibular Schwannoma ◽  
Facial Palsy ◽  
Tumor Resection ◽  
Consecutive Series ◽  
Tumor Diameter ◽  
Nerve Function ◽  
Facial Nerve Function ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fine Print

Object. In this study the authors investigate delayed facial palsy (DFP), which is an underreported phenomenon after surgery for vestibular schwannoma (VS). The authors identified 15 (4.8%) patients from a consecutive series of 314 who underwent surgery for VS between 1988 and 2000, and in whom DFP developed. Delayed facial palsy was defined as a deterioration of facial nerve function from House—Brackmann Grades 1 or 2 more than 3 days postoperatively. Methods. All patients underwent intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring of facial nerve function. The average latency of DFP was 10.9 days (range 4–30 days). In six patients (40%) minor deterioration (≤ two House—Brackmann grades) had occurred at a mean of 10.2 days postsurgery, whereas in nine patients (60%) moderate deterioration (≥ three House—Brackmann grades) had occurred at a mean of 11.8 days postoperatively. Five (33%) of 15 patients recovered to Grade 1 of 2 function within 6 weeks of DFP onset. Of the 15 patients with DFP, 14 had completed 1 year of follow up at the time of this study. Twelve (80%) of these 15 patients recovered to Grade 1 or 2 function within 3 months, and 13 (93%) of 14 patients recovered within 1 year. In all cases, stimulation of the seventh cranial nerve on completion of tumor resection revealed the nerve to be intact, both anatomically and functionally, to proximal and distal stimulation at 0.1 mA. A smaller tumor diameter correlated with greater recovery of facial nerve function. There was no correlation between the latency or severity of or recovery from DFP, and the patient's age or sex, the surgical approach, frequency of neurotonic seventh nerve discharges, anatomical relationship of the facial nerve to the tumor, patient's history of tobacco use, or cardiovascular disease. Conclusions. It appears that DFP is an uncommon consequence of surgery for VS. Although excellent recovery of facial nerve function to its original postoperative status nearly always occurs after DFP, the magnitude and time course of the disorder were not predictors for subsequent recovery of facial nerve function.

Defining clinically significant tumor size in vestibular schwannoma to inform timing of microsurgery during wait-and-scan management: moving beyond minimum detectable growth

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Robert J. Macielak ◽  
Katherine P. Wallerius ◽  
Skye K. Lawlor ◽  
Christine M. Lohse ◽  
John P. Marinelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Facial Nerve ◽  
Tumor Size ◽  
Optimal Size ◽  
Nerve Function ◽  
Facial Nerve Function ◽  
Class A ◽  
Microsurgical Resection ◽  
Size Threshold ◽  
Serial Mri

OBJECTIVE Detection of vestibular schwannoma (VS) growth during observation leads to definitive treatment at most centers globally. Although ≥ 2 mm represents an established benchmark of tumor growth on serial MRI studies, 2 mm of linear tumor growth is unlikely to significantly alter microsurgical outcomes. The objective of the current work was to ascertain where the magnitude of change in clinical outcome is the greatest based on size. METHODS A single-institution retrospective review of a consecutive series of patients with sporadic VS who underwent microsurgical resection between January 2000 and May 2020 was performed. Preoperative tumor size cutpoints were defined in 1-mm increments and used to identify optimal size thresholds for three primary outcomes: 1) the ability to achieve gross-total resection (GTR); 2) maintenance of normal House-Brackmann (HB) grade I facial nerve function; and 3) preservation of serviceable hearing (American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery class A/B). Optimal size thresholds were obtained by maximizing c-indices from logistic regression models. RESULTS Of 603 patients meeting inclusion criteria, 502 (83%) had tumors with cerebellopontine angle (CPA) extension. CPA tumor size was significantly associated with achieving GTR, postoperative HB grade I facial nerve function, and maintenance of serviceable hearing (all p < 0.001). The optimal tumor size threshold to distinguish between GTR and less than GTR was 17 mm of CPA extension (c-index 0.73). In the immediate postoperative period, the size threshold between HB grade I and HB grade > I was 17 mm of CPA extension (c-index 0.65). At the most recent evaluation, the size threshold between HB grade I and HB grade > I was 23 mm (c-index 0.68) and between class A/B and C/D hearing was 18 mm (c-index 0.68). Tumors within 3 mm of the 17-mm CPA threshold displayed similarly strong c-indices. Among purely intracanalicular tumors, linear size was not found to portend worse outcomes for all measures. CONCLUSIONS The probability of incurring less optimal microsurgical outcomes begins to significantly increase at 14–20 mm of CPA extension. Although many factors ultimately influence decision-making, when considering timing of microsurgical resection, using a size threshold range as depicted in this study offers an evidence-based approach that moves beyond reflexively recommending treatment for all tumors after detecting ≥ 2 mm of tumor growth on serial MRI studies.

Volumetry and Surgical Grading Systems for Vestibular Schwannoma Size Assessment and their Relationship to Postoperative Facial Nerve Function

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catharina Strauss ◽  
Stefan Rampp ◽  
Christian Scheller ◽  
Julian Prell ◽  
Christian Strauss ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Facial Nerve ◽  
Vestibular Schwannoma ◽  
Tumor Size ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Maximum Diameter ◽  
Breath Hold ◽  
Nerve Function ◽  
Facial Nerve Function ◽  
Maximal Diameter ◽  
Grading Systems

Abstract Background and Study Aims Treatment modalities in vestibular schwannoma (VS) are difficult to compare since different techniques for size measurements are used. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relation between different tumor size grading systems regarding their compatibility as well as the relationship to facial nerve outcome facilitating comparisons of different studies. Material and Methods In this retrospective study, preoperative magnetic resonance imaging of 100 patients with surgically treated VS was evaluated regarding total tumor volume and anatomical extension based on the Koos and Samii classification, as well as volumetric and maximal diameter measures. Three-dimensional constructive interference in steady state (3D-CISS) and T1 postcontrast volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination (VIBE) sequences were used. Facial nerve function was evaluated according to the House–Brackmann (HB) scale 6 months following complete tumor removal via the retrosigmoid approach. Results Tumor size showed a moderate influence on postsurgical facial nerve function with correlations not exceeding 0.4. Severe palsy was observed mainly in patients with large tumors with Koos grade 4, Samii grade 4b, respectively a volume of at least 6 cm3 or a maximum diameter of 2.4 cm for HB ≥ 3 and a volume of 7.5 cm3 and maximum diameter of 3.2 cm for HB ≥ 4. In regard to volumetry, the Koos and Samii grading systems were highly comparable, whereas the maximal diameter showed consistently lower correlation values. Conclusions The results of our study allow direct comparison of studies on surgery versus radiotherapy of VS. The data allow for translation of tumor sizes based on different grading systems. Comparison of microsurgical, radiotherapeutic and radiosurgical approaches should concentrate on patients with large tumors. Whereas smaller tumors were rarely associated with severe facial palsy, large tumors did not exclude the possibility of weak or no palsy 6 months after surgery.

Facial Nerve Dissection by use of Acoustic (Loudspeaker) Facial EMG Monitoring

1986 ◽  
Vol 95 (4) ◽  
pp. 458-463 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sam E. Kinney ◽  
Richard Prass
Keyword(s):  
Facial Nerve ◽  
Acoustic Neuroma ◽  
Internal Auditory Canal ◽  
Subsequent Development ◽  
Lateral Approach ◽  
Nerve Function ◽  
Facial Nerve Function ◽  
Facial Emg ◽  
Acoustic Neuroma Surgery ◽  
Total Tumor Removal

The development of the surgical microscope in 1953, and the subsequent development of microsurgical instrumentation, signaled the beginning of modern-day acoustic neuroma surgery. Preservation of facial nerve function and total tumor removal is the goal of all acoustic neuroma surgery. The refinement of the translabyrinthine removal of acoustic neuromas by Dr. William House’ significantly improved preservation of facial nerve function. This is made possible by the anatomic identification of the facial nerve at the lateral end of the internal auditory canal. When the surgery is accomplished from a suboccipital or retrosigmoid approach, the facial nerve may be identified at the brain stem or within the internal auditory canal. Identifying the facial nerve from the posterior approach is not as anatomically precise as from the lateral approach through the labyrinth. The use of a facial nerve stimulator can greatly facilitate Identification of the facial nerve in these procedures.

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