Prognostic Factors for Hearing Preservation in Vestibular Schwannoma Surgery : Otology & Neurotology

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Tumors of the Ear and Cranial Base

Prognostic Factors for Hearing Preservation in Vestibular Schwannoma Surgery

Brackmann, Derald E.*; Owens, Robert M.†; Friedman, Rick A.*; Hitselberger, William E.‡; De la Cruz, Anthony*; House, John W.*; Nelson, Ralph A.*; Luxford, William M.*; Slattery, William H. III*; Fayad, Jose N.§

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The American Journal of Otology 21(3):p 417-424, May 2000.

Abstract

Objective 

To determine whether prognostic indicators for hearing preservation could be identified in patients with vestibular schwannoma undergoing middle fossa craniotomy resection.

Study Design 

Prospective case review.

Setting 

Private practice tertiary referral center.

Patients 

333 patients with serviceable hearing and vestibular schwannoma resected by middle fossa craniotomy from 1992 to 1998.

Main Outcome Measures 

Potential prognostic indicators, including tumor size and nerve of origin, preoperative pure-tone average, speech discrimination, distortion product otoacoustic emission testing, age, auditory brainstem response (ABR), and electronystagmography.

Results 

Postoperative hearing near preoperative levels was attained in 167 patients (50%), with an American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Class A hearing result in 33% and a Class B result in 26%. Comparison of potential prognostic indicators between groups with hearing preserved and the group with no measurable hearing revealed significant differences in preoperative hearing, ABR, and tumor origin data. Better preoperative hearing, shorter intraaural wave V latency, shorter absolute wave V latency, and superior vestibular nerve origin were associated with higher rates of hearing preservation.

Conclusions 

Preoperative hearing status, ABR, and intraoperative tumor origin data were shown to be of value as prognostic indicators.

© 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.

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