Prognostic Factors for the Outcome of Translabyrinthine Surgery for Vestibular Schwannomas.

Abstract

Objective:To identify predictors of tumor recurrence and postoperative facial nerve function after translabyrinthine surgery for unilateral vestibular schwannomas.Study Design:Retrospective study.Setting:Tertiary referral center.Patients:Between 1996 and 2017 a total of 596 patients with unilateral vestibular schwannoma underwent translabyrinthine surgery. Pre- and postoperative clinical status, radiological, and surgical findings were evaluated.Intervention(s):Translabyrinthine surgery.Main Outcome Measure(s):Potential predictors for tumor recurrence and facial nerve outcome were analyzed using Cox regression and ordinal logistic regression, respectively.Results:The extent of tumor removal was total in 32%, near-total in 58%, and subtotal in 10%. In 5.5% (33/596) of patients the tumor recurred. Subtotal tumor resection (p = 0.004, hazard ratios [HR] = 10.66), a young age (p = 0.008, HR = 0.96), and tumor progression preoperatively (p = 0.042, HR = 2.32) significantly increased the risk of recurrence, whereas tumor size or histologic composition did not. A good postoperative facial nerve function (House–Brackmann grade 1–2) was achieved in 85%. The risk of postoperative facial nerve paresis or paralysis increased with tumor size (p < 0.001, OR = 1.52), but was not associated with the extent of tumor removal, histologic composition, or patient demographics.Conclusions:Translabyrinthine surgery is an effective treatment for vestibular schwannoma, with a good local control rate and facial nerve outcome. The extent of tumor removal is a clinically relevant predictor for tumor recurrence, as are young patient age and preoperative tumor progression. A large preoperative tumor size is associated with a higher risk of postoperative facial nerve paresis or paralysis.