Hearing outcomes of vestibular schwannoma patients managed with ‘wait and scan’: predictive value of hearing level at diagnosis

Abstract

In vestibular schwannoma patients, good high frequency hearing and good speech discrimination at diagnosis are useful tools in predicting good hearing after observation.

Predictors of Volumetric Growth and Auditory Deterioration in Vestibular Schwannomas Followed in a Wait and Scan Policy

“…This is in agreement with recent findings of Stangerup et al (11): established hearing loss is a strong predictor of further hearing loss, whereas patients with minimal PTA losses and an SDS of 100% are unlikely to lose their functional hearing.…”

“…Progressive sensorineural hearing loss is symptom reported most often at the time of VS diagnosis, and loss of hearing, as well as growth, may continue during this W&S policy (7Y9). So far, sequential MRI is the only objective method to identify growth and is, combined with clinical symptoms such as hearing deterioration, generally decisive in clinical decision making (10,11). This study focuses on determination of patient and radiologic VS-related factors predicting VS growth or hearing loss.…”

Hearing disorders in brainstem lesions

“…Caye- Thomasen et al (2007) studied 156 patients with purely intracanalicular vestibular schwannoma and found that the mean pure-tone average (PTA) was 51 dB hearing level (HL) and the mean speech discrimination score was 60% at diagnosis. Similarly, Stangerup et al (2010b) reported that, of 1144 patients with vestibular schwannoma, 491 patients (53%) presented with good hearing. In their patients, speech discrimination was better than 70%.…”

“…In any therapeutic consideration the cost/benefit ratio requires careful consideration. The size of the tumor and its growth rate are important variables in the management of vestibular schwannoma (Agrawal et al, 2010;Stangerup et al, 2010b;Arthurs et al, 2011;Pennings et al, 2011). Surgical intervention is recommended in tumors showing rapid growth and in tumors growing outside the internal auditory canal impinging in the surrounding neurologic structures (Nadol and Martuza, 2005;Régis and Roche, 2008;Noudel et al, 2009;Whitmore et al, 2010).…”

Wertigkeit unterschiedlicher Methoden zur Behandlung von Akustikusneurinomen

“…gerup bei etwa der Hälfte seiner Patienten, die bei Diagnosestellung eine Gehör-klasse A nach AAO aufwiesen, einen Verlust der Klasse A nach 6 Jahren[79]. Roehm und Gantz stellten bei etwa der Hälf-te ihrer über 65-jährigen Patienten nach im Mittel 3 Jahren den Verlust eines ini-…”