Clinical experience with vestibular schwannomas: epidemiology, symptomatology, diagnosis, and surgical results

Abstract

The Danish model for vestibular schwannoma (VS) surgery has been influenced by some historical otological events, taking its origin in the fact that the first attempt to remove CPA tumors was performed by an otologist in 1916. In approximately 50 years VS surgery was performed by neurosurgeons in a decentralized model. Highly specialized neuro- and otosurgeons have been included in our team since the early beginning of the centralized Danish model of VS surgery in 1976. Our surgical practice has always been performed on the basis of known and proven knowledge, but we spared no effort to search for innovative procedures. The present paper reflects the experience we have gained in two decades of VS surgery. Our studies on the incidence, symptomatology, diagnosis, expectancy and surgical results are presented.