Treatment of Acoustic Neuromas and Other Schwannomas
Treatment of acoustic neuroma is among the oldest indications for Gamma Knife radiosurgery. Advanced conformal planning allows tailoring treatment radiation to the shape of the lesion while minimizing brainstem and cranial nerve dose. The current technique for treating acoustic neuroma results in high tumor control with low brainstem, facial nerve, and other acoustic neuroma complications.
Successfully treated acoustic neuromas often evolve through several phases. Initial changes may take several months or more to occur, the earliest of which is loss of central enhancement and slight enlargement of the tumor. Several months later, central enhancement may recur along with slight shrinkage of the lesion, then stabilizes in size. The goal of Gamma Knife radiosurgery for acoustic neuroma is to arrest tumor growth, not to make the tumor disappear.
Gamma Knife radiosurgery for an acoustic neuroma and other schwannomas represents an attractive alternative to conventional surgery for lesions < 3 cm, even in some younger patients, particularly when facial nerve preservation or a short recovery period are goals. Gamma Knife radiosurgery may also be considered when tumors recur after conventional surgery, or as part of a staged procedure with partial surgical removal followed by Gamma Knife radiosurgery.
To schedule an evaluation with a Burkhardt Brain Tumor Center specialist to determine if Gamma Knife radiosurgery is an option for you, please call our Appointment Center at 216.636.5860 or toll-free at 866.588.2264.