Recurrence of Vestibular (acoustic) Schwannomas in Surgical Patients Where Preservation of Facial and Cochlear Nerve is the Priority

The risk of tumour recurrence was measured in a series of surgically treated vestibular (acoustic) schwannoma patients where preservation of facial and cochlear nerve function was a routine objective. This report describes the influence of this surgical philosophy on the hazards of tumour recurrence or continued growth from residual tumour cells left in situ. A series of 116 consecutive vestibular schwannoma patients underwent primary surgical resection in a general community hospital by a single neurosurgeon. Recurrence of a tumour was assessed radiologically. Eighteen patients experienced a recurrence. No relationship was found between recurrence and age, residual coagulated morsels of tumour, preoperative tumour size, or opening of the internal auditory canal. Time to recurrence ranged from six to one hundred and forty-eight months and all but two recurrent lesions were non symptomatic. Lifelong follow-up of these patients is therefore, suggested.