Vestibular schwannoma: Global perspectives

Abstract

The management protocols for vestibular schwannomas (VS) may differ across the world depending on local health-care policies and resources available. Early diagnosis, appropriate intervention, and follow-up may all vary depending on a multitude of factors especially the availability of medical infrastructure, professionals, funding, and ethnic/socioeconomic factors in the developing world. Limited awareness of the way VS present, lack of primary care physicians, poorly developed referral pathways, limited resources to pay for treatment, poor provision of clinicians, and appropriate facilities for treatment are commonplace, often resulting in a delay in recognition of pathology and timely onward referral for treatment. There is, however, a general trend toward improvement in the availability and quality of care and, in a limited number of regions, state-of-the-art facilities are already available for those who can afford to access them. This chapter describes the current status of VS care in India and Africa and explores the challenges faced in the management of VS in the developing world.

Keywords: Developing world; Global health; Health care; Skull base; Stereotactic radiosurgery; Surgery; Vestibular schwannoma.