[Stereotaxic irradiation of vestibular schwannoma (acoustic neuroma)]

Abstract

A vestibular schwannoma (acoustic neurinoma) is a benign tumour localized in the cerebellopontine angle; it can give rise to cranial nerve symptoms. In recent years stereotactic irradiation has become an alternative to radical surgery. Stereotactic irradiation is administered with a gamma knife unit or with an adapted linear accelerator, as a single fraction (radiosurgery) or fractionated (stereotactic radiation therapy). Stereotactic irradiation gives local control rates of over 90%. Post treatment hearing preservation rate is over 60% and treatment related toxicity is low. Comparable treatment results are also found in the Netherlands at the VU-Ziekenhuis in Amsterdam.