Iatrogenic cerebellar implantation of a vestibular schwannoma

2006 ◽  
Vol 104 (3) ◽  
pp. 452-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Todd A. Patrick ◽  
Caterina Giannini ◽  
Michael J. Ebersold ◽  
Michael J. Link

✓ Metastatic seeding or iatrogenic implantation of numerous types of primary central nervous system tumors, typically along cerebrospinal fluid pathways, is a frequently described albeit rare phenomenon and has never been reported in association with vestibular schwannoma (VS). The authors present a case of inadvertent surgical implantation of VS into the cerebellar hemisphere during resection of a recurrent VS in the cerebellopontine angle and internal auditory canal. A 42-year-old man presented with a 2.5-cm right VS that was removed without complication via a retrosigmoid approach. Routine imaging performed 5 years later revealed a 1.5-cm recurrence of the VS that was subsequently removed by reopening the retrosigmoid craniotomy. Five years later—10 years after initial presentation—follow-up imaging revealed a 1-cm recurrence of the VS and a separate 2.2-cm tumor in the inferior cerebellar parenchyma with surrounding edema. Both tumors were removed without complication by reopening the previous retrosigmoid craniotomy. Histological evaluation of these tumors revealed features typical of VS and similar to those of the tissue obtained from the two prior resections. Given the similarities among these tumors in pathological appearance and mitotic index, the presence of the intraparenchymal cerebellar schwannoma was probably due to intraoperative iatrogenic implantation.

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Yuekang Zhang ◽  
Yong Deng ◽  
Zhigang Lan ◽  
Chenghong Wang ◽  
Yuekang Zhang

Cystic meningioma in the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) is an extremely uncommon disease. It is often misdiagnosed as other diseases. Its clinical features, surgical strategies and prognosis are not clearly understood. We reported a case of cystic meningioma in the CPA with tumor invasion into the internal auditory canal (IAC). Based on the typical preoperative symptoms, signs, hearing tests, and enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the 36-year-old female patient was diagnosed with vestibular schwannoma and underwent surgical resection. Postoperative pathology revealed that the tumor was meningioma. It was totally removed without any new neurological dysfunction, and no recurrence was observed in the follow-up within 24 months. Cystic meningioma in the CPA is considered to have a high pathological grade and recurrence rate. Considering this situation, total intraoperative resection, including the enhanced wall of the tumor and postoperative follow-up may be critical.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Debebe Theodros ◽  
C. Rory Goodwin ◽  
Genevieve M. Crane ◽  
Jason Liauw ◽  
Lawrence Kleinberg ◽  
...  

Extrapulmonary small cell carcinomas (EPSCC) are rare malignancies with poor patient prognoses. We present the case of a 63-year-old male who underwent surgical resection of a poorly differentiated small cell carcinoma, likely from a small intestinal primary tumor that metastasized to the cerebellopontine angle (CPA). A 63-year-old male presented with mild left facial paralysis, hearing loss, and balance instability. MRI revealed a 15 mm mass in the left CPA involving the internal auditory canal consistent with a vestibular schwannoma. Preoperative MRI eight weeks later demonstrated marked enlargement to 35 mm. The patient underwent a suboccipital craniectomy and the mass was grossly different visually and in consistency from a standard vestibular schwannoma. The final pathology revealed a poorly differentiated small cell carcinoma. Postoperative PET scan identified avid uptake in the small intestine suggestive of either a small intestinal primary tumor or additional metastatic disease. The patient underwent whole brain radiation therapy and chemotherapy and at last follow-up demonstrated improvement in his symptoms. Surgical resection and radiotherapy are potential treatment options to improve survival in patients diagnosed with NET brain metastases. We present the first documented case of skull base metastasis of a poorly differentiated small cell carcinoma involving the CPA.


2011 ◽  
Vol 115 (4) ◽  
pp. 835-841 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew L. Carlson ◽  
Kathryn M. Van Abel ◽  
William R. Schmitt ◽  
Colin L. W. Driscoll ◽  
Brian A. Neff ◽  
...  

Object The authors describe the unique occurrence of nodular enhancement within the fundus of the internal auditory canal (IAC) lateral to the preoperative radiological tumor margin following gross-total vestibular schwannoma (VS) resection. Methods The nature of the study was a retrospective chart review of records. The authors reviewed the cases of all patients who underwent microsurgical resection of a VS between January 2000 and January 2010 at a single tertiary referral center. Patients with incomplete resection, neurofibromatosis Type 2, and those with fewer than 2 postoperative MR images available for review were excluded. Postsurgical patients with IAC enhancement located lateral to the preoperative imaging–delineated tumor margin were identified. Lesion morphology was characterized on serial MR imaging studies. Clinical follow-up and outcomes were recorded. Results Over the past decade, 350 patients underwent microsurgical VS resection. Of these, 16 patients met study criteria and were found to have postsurgical enhancement in the distal aspect of the IAC lateral to the imaging limits of the preoperative tumor margin on the first postoperative MR imaging study (37.5% women, median age 45 years). Initial MR imaging was performed at a mean of 3.1 months following surgery, and the mean radiological follow-up duration was 39.8 months (range 16.4–101.9 months). None of the 16 patients developed recurrence during the follow-up course. Conclusions In contrast to previous publications that have reported a high rate of recurrence in cases involving nodular enhancement within the original tumor bed, postoperative enhancement in the IAC lateral to the original tumor margin appears to carry much less risk for tumor recurrence. These findings may be helpful when counseling patients on the recommended frequency of postoperative follow-up imaging.


2013 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 317-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle A. Holman ◽  
William R. Schmitt ◽  
Matthew L. Carlson ◽  
Colin L. W. Driscoll ◽  
Charles W. Beatty ◽  
...  

Object The aim in this study was to describe the clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, and risk for neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2) in pediatric patients presenting with cerebellopontine angle (CPA) and internal auditory canal (IAC) tumors. Methods The authors conducted a retrospective study at a tertiary care academic referral center. All patients with an age ≤ 18 years who had presented with an extraaxial CPA or IAC tumor between 1987 and 2012 were included in the study cohort. Data regarding symptoms, diagnosis, tumor characteristics, and NF2 status were collected and analyzed. Results Sixty patients (55% female, 45% male) harboring 87 tumors were identified. The mean age at diagnosis was 12.8 years (median 14.0 years, range 0.9–18.9 years). Schwannomas were the most commonly identified lesions (57 of 87 tumors, including 52 vestibular, 3 facial, and 2 trigeminal schwannomas), followed by meningiomas (5 of 87) and epidermoid cysts (4 of 87). Six malignant tumors were diagnosed, including small-cell sarcoma, squamous cell carcinoma, malignant meningioma, atypical rhabdoid-teratoid tumor, endolymphatic sac tumor, and malignant ganglioglioma. Headache, followed by hearing loss and imbalance, was the most common presenting symptom, whereas dysphagia, otalgia, and facial pain were uncommon. Neurofibromatosis Type 2 was diagnosed in 20 (61%) of 33 patients with vestibular schwannoma (VS), while the other 13 patients (39%) had sporadic tumors. Nineteen of the 20 patients with NF2 met the diagnostic criteria for that disorder on initial presentation, and 15 of them presented with bilateral VS. At the last follow-up, 19 of the 20 patients subsequently diagnosed with NF2 demonstrated bilateral VSs, whereas 1 patient with a unilateral VS and multiple other NF2-associated tumors has yet to demonstrate a contralateral VS to date. Only 1 patient presenting with an isolated unilateral VS and no family history of NF2 demonstrated a contralateral VS on subsequent radiological screening. Conclusions Cerebellopontine angle and IAC tumors in the pediatric population are rare. There are several noteworthy differences between the adult and pediatric populations harboring these lesions. While VS is the most common pathology in both age groups, the lesion was found in only 60% of the pediatric patients in the present study. Unlike in adults, VSs in the pediatric population were associated with NF2 in over one-half of all cases. The majority of pediatric patients with NF2 fulfilled the diagnostic criteria at initial presentation; however, approximately 7% of patients presenting with a seemingly sporadic (no family history of NF2) unilateral VS will meet the criteria for NF2 later in life. Finally, malignancies account for a significantly higher percentage (10%) of cases among pediatric patients. These findings underscore the importance of early screening and close radiological follow-up and may be helpful in patient counseling.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 450-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan D. Sherman ◽  
Elias Dagnew ◽  
Myles L. Pensak ◽  
Harry R. van Loveren ◽  
John M. Tew

Abstract OBJECTIVE: This study reviewed the management and outcomes of facial neuromas during the past decade at our institution. The goal was to analyze differences in presentation on the basis of location of the facial neuroma, review facial nerve function and hearing preservation postoperatively, and understand the characteristics of patients with tumors limited to the cerebellopontine angle or internal auditory canal. We also report an unusual case of a facial neuroma limited to the nervus intermedius. METHODS: Nine patients with facial neuromas and one with Jacobson's nerve neuroma underwent surgery, and total resection was accomplished in nine patients. A chart review for pre- and postoperative data was performed, after which all patients were evaluated on an outpatient basis. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 47 years; mean follow-up time was 33.1 months. The most common presenting symptoms were hearing loss (six patients) and facial paresis (five patients). A total of five patients had progressive (four patients) or recurrent (one patient) facial paresis. No patient experienced worsened hearing as a result of surgery, and one experienced improvement in a conductive hearing deficit. Five patients required cable graft repair of the facial nerve; four improved to House-Brackmann Grade 3 facial paresis. Four of five patients with preserved anatomic continuity of the facial nerve regained normal facial function. There were no surgical complications. No tumors have recurred during follow-up. We report the second nerve sheath tumor limited to the nervus intermedius. CONCLUSION: This series documents that facial neuromas can be resected safely with preservation of facial nerve and hearing function. Preservation of anatomic continuity of the facial nerve should be attempted, and it does not seem to lead to frequent recurrence. Tumors limited to the cerebellopontine angle/internal auditory canal are a unique subset of facial neuromas with characteristics that vary greatly from facial neuromas in other locations, and they are indistinguishable clinically from acoustic neuromas.


2003 ◽  
Vol 128 (3) ◽  
pp. 387-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernhard Schaller ◽  
Ariane Baumann

OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to study the occurrence and source of origin of postcraniotomy headache syndrome after removal of vestibular schwannoma via the retrosigmoid approach. METHODS: A retrospective chart analysis was conducted of all patients with headache at 3 months after removal of vestibular schwannoma from January 1981 through March 1997 and with a minimum of 24 months of follow-up. Diagnosis was made according to the headache classification and was graded using the HARNER scale. Recovery outcome was compared in selected groups of patients with and without headache. A descriptive statistical analysis was used to analyze differences between groups. RESULTS: Of the patients who underwent retrosigmoid craniotomy for removal of vestibular schwannomas, 52 of 155 patients (34%) reported having severe headache of requiring medication every day and/or feeling incapacitated 3 months after surgery. Headache was more prevalent in those who had the bone flap replaced (94% versus 27%), if there was duraplastic or direct dura closure (0% versus 100%). Laboratory-proven aseptic meningitis, most likely due to the use of fibrin glue and drilling of posterior aspect of the internal auditory canal, was mainly associated with postoperative headache (81% versus 2%). In 75% of these cases, calcifications along the brainstem had been noted. CONCLUSION: The origin of postoperative headaches after retrosigmoid vestibular schwannoma resections is not yet fully understood. Different factors may play a role in preventing or reducing headache: dural adhesions to nuchal muscles or to subcutaneous tissues and dural tension in the case of direct dural closure may explain postoperative headache from dural tension. Intradural drilling and the use of fibrin glue may be the source of aseptic meningitis as the etiology of persistent postoperative headache. Prevention of postoperative headache may include the replacement of bone flap at the end of surgery, duraplastic instead of direct dural closure, and prevention of the use of fibrin glue or extensive drilling of the posterior aspect of internal auditory canal.


2018 ◽  
Vol 79 (S 05) ◽  
pp. S385-S386
Author(s):  
Rocio Evangelista-Zamora ◽  
Stefan Lieber ◽  
Florian Ebner ◽  
Marcos Tatagiba

We present a case of a mid-sized vestibular schwannoma (T3b according to the Hannover classification) that was resected through a retrosigmoid transmeatal approach in semi-sitting position under endoscopic assistance. The patient is a 52-year-old male with acute loss of functional hearing on the right side. Audiometry confirmed a loss of up to 60 dB and lost speech discrimination, there were no associated symptoms such as tinnitus or vertigo. This 2D video demonstrates positioning, OR set-up, anatomical and surgical nuances of the skull base approach and the operative technique for microdissection of the tumor from the critical neurovascular structures, especially the facial and cochlear nerves. A gross total resection was achieved and the patient discharged home after four days with unaltered function of the facial nerve (HB I). At one year follow up there was no indication of residual or recurrence.In summary, the retrosigmoid transmeatal approach is an important and powerful tool in the armamentarium for the microsurgical management of all kinds of vestibular schwannomas. Provided the necessary anesthesiological precautions and intraoperative procedures the semi-sitting position is safe and effective. If needed, the approach can be complemented by the use of an endoscope for visualization of the distal internal auditory canal.The link to the video can be found at: https://youtu.be/pPKT4_5nIn0.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Rubén Martín-Hernández ◽  
Diego Hernando Macías-Rodríguez ◽  
Ángel Muñoz-Herrera ◽  
Juan Carlos Del Pozo-de Dios ◽  
Santiago Santa Cruz-Ruiz ◽  
...  

The appearance of a primary germinoma in the central nervous system but not on or near the midline or within the brain is exceptional. It may occur at any age; however, it is rare in patients over 50 years old. Only a handful of cases of germinomas located in the cerebellopontine angle were presented, but to our knowledge, there has been no description of an isolated germinoma in the internal auditory canal. We report a case of germinoma in the internal auditory canal in a 51-year-old man simulating the clinical and radiological characteristics of a vestibular schwannoma.


Neurosurgery ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tetsuji Sekiya ◽  
Takashi Iwabuchi ◽  
Akira Andoh ◽  
Shigeki Kamata

Abstract The current tendency in acoustic neuroma surgery to attempt the preservation of hearing function and the problem of accidental hearing loss caused by microsurgical neurovascular decompression operations for hemifacial spasm or trigeminal neuralgia prompted us to study the exact surgical vulnerability of the auditory system. The surgical procedures for operation on the cerebellopontine angle of dogs were carried out according to the sequence of the posterior fossa transmeatal operation for acoustic neuroma. The operation was tentatively divided into three stages: (a) craniectomy and dural opening, (b) cerebellar retraction, and (c) identification of the cochlear nerve in the unroofed internal auditory canal (IAC). The postoperative behavior of the auditory system was evaluated electrocochleographically (EcochG) and histologically. Overzealous retraction of the cerebellar hemisphere caused transient disturbance of the EcochG pattern. Mechanical stretching of both the cochlear nerve and the internal auditory artery may cause a disturbance in the synchronized discharge of the cochlear neurons. Various manipulations at the porus acusticus internus or the IAC (such as pinching the nerve with forceps or electrocoagulation) produced thoroughly distorted EcochG patterns. From the histological findings, the main causative factor for these labyrinthine damages was considered to be vascular insufficiency The current need for neurosurgical operations to preserve hearing is discussed in the light of these findings.


2003 ◽  
Vol 117 (10) ◽  
pp. 788-792 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mario Sanna ◽  
Manoj Agarwal ◽  
Yogesh Jain ◽  
Alessandra Russo ◽  
Abdel Kader Taibah

Difficult cerebellopontine angle (CPA) tumours namely large/giant vestibular schwannomas, vestibular schwannomas with a significant anterior extension and meningiomas of the posterior surface of the petrous bone extending anterior to the internal auditory canal (IAC) have always posed a problem for the otoneurosurgeon. Modifications of the enlarged translabyrinthine approach (ETLA) specifically aimed at dealing with these tumours are not reported. The aim of this paper is to introduce the transapical extension of ETLA which involves increased circumferential drilling around the IAC beyond 270°C. The extension allows enhanced surgical control over the tumour as well as the anterior aspect of the CPA including the prepontine cistern, the Vth and VIth cranial nerves. The extension is further classified into Type I and II depending upon the extent of drilling. Type I extension entails drilling around the IAC for 300–320° and is indicated for large/giant vestibular schwannomas (large vestibular schwannoma extrameatal diameter 3–3.9 cm, giant vestibular schwannoma extrameatal diameter [ges ]4 cm) and vestibular schwannomas with significant anterior extension. Type II extension involves complete drilling around the canal for 360° and is indicated for meningiomas of the posterior surface of the petrous bone extending anterior to the IAC.


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