Intratumoral Hemorrhage in Jugular Foramen Schwannoma after Stereotactic Radiosurgery: A Case Report

Abstract

Background: Clinically significant intratumoral hemorrhage is an extremely rare complication of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for benign tumors.Case Presentation:Here, we present the case of a 64-year-old man who underwent SRS for a relatively large dumbbell-shaped left jugular foramen schwannoma and thereafter developed intratumoral hemorrhage. On post-SRS day 3, he developed lower cranial nerve palsies with radiographically evident tumor expansion. His neurological conditions had gradually improved thereafter; however, he suddenly developed headache, dizziness, and mild hearing deterioration at seven months due to intratumoral hemorrhage. We managed the patient conservatively, and eventually his symptoms improved except for slight ataxia and hearing deterioration. Follow-up images at three years from SRS demonstrated significant tumor shrinkage. This is the first report describing intratumoral hemorrhage after SRS for jugular foramen schwannoma.Conclusions:Transient expansion of the tumor and subsequent venous stasis around the tumor may have played a role in the hemorrhage. Intratumoral hemorrhage should be considered as a rare but potential complication of SRS for jugular foramen schwannomas.