Tumor growth rate: A new prognostic indicator of hearing preservation in vestibular schwannoma surgery

Background

The management of small‐ to medium‐size (< 20 mm) sporadic vestibular schwannomas (VSs) continues to inspire debate. Preoperative pure tone thresholds and tumor size are recognized prognostic features of hearing preservation after surgery.

Objective

To investigate what preoperative characteristics were associated with nonserviceable hearing after surgery for VSs.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the audiological results of 92 patients treated with the middle cranial fossa (MCF) approach for resection of VSs (< 20 mm). Sex, age, symptoms, tumor site, tumor size, growth rate, and hearing class according to American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery guidelines were evaluated. Negative outcome was progression after surgery to nonserviceable hearing according to Gardner‐Robertson classification. We included only patients with preoperative serviceable hearing.

Results

After surgery, 48 patients (52.2%) had nonserviceable hearing. At univariate analysis, sex age, symptoms, tumor site, and size were not associated to hearing outcome. Tumor growth rate ≥ 2.16 mm/year (P = 0.02, odds ratio 8.5) and preoperative hearing class B (P = 0.03, OR 5.89) were statistically associated to nonserviceable hearing after VSs resection. Tumor growth rate ≥ 2.16 mm/year was also significantly associated to preoperative hearing class B (P = 0.01). At multivariate analysis, the only independent prognostic factor of progression to nonserviceable hearing in operated VSs was tumor growth rate ≥ 2.16 mm/year (P = 0.01, OR = 4.15).

Conclusion

We found a new prognostic indicator of hearing preservation after VS surgery with the MCF approach: the tumor growth rate. This feature should be further investigated before being considered in the decision‐making process of VS treatment.

Level of Evidence

4. Laryngoscope, 2019

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