Stereotactic Radiosurgery: The Experience of the Neurotology and Skull Base Unit at Beaumont Hospital

Objective: Management options for vestibular schwannomas and glomus tumors have greatly expanded since the introduction of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Optimal outcomes reflect long-term tumor control, preservation of cranial nerve function, and retention of quality of life. The authors review their 11-year experience.

Study Design: A retrospective study conducted in a university-based tertiary referral center.

Patients: Between 2000 and 2011, 144 patients with non-vestibular schwannomas/neurofibromatosis type 2 tumors were recruited from the Neurotology and Skull Base Multidisciplinary Clinic at Beaumont Hospital. Of these, 34.7% (n = 50) presented with glomus tumors. Twelve of these (24%) underwent SRS. All tumors were classified as Fisch C or D. The mean length for follow-up was 4.3 years.

Results: Following treatment with SRS, 75% of patients (n = 9) exhibited no further growth at follow-up, and 25% of patients (n = 3) demonstrated reduction of tumor volume. No patients in this cohort demonstrated tumor growth following treatment. This gave us an overall control rate of 100%.

Conclusion: SRS is a safe and effective treatment for patients with glomus tumors, demonstrating good tumor responses at 4-year follow-up. Good functional outcomes were observed in this group of patients.