Growth Patterns of Small Intracanalicular Vestibular Schwannomas.

Source: PubMed, NCBI / U.S. National Library of Medicine

Describe the natural history of small intrameatal vestibular schwannomas. Retrospective case series. Tertiary referral center. Patients diagnosed with small (5 mm or less) intrameatal vestibular schwannoma with at least 3-year surveillance magnetic resonance imaging studies. Observational study. Tumor growth and conversion from active surveillance to surgical or radiotherapy treatment during observation. Of the 74 patients identified, 36% (n=27/74) of tumors grew over a median surveillance time of 79 months (IQR: 71). Twelve percent (n=9/74) of cases with small intrameatal vestibular schwannomas who entered a period of active imaging surveillance went on to receive surgical or radiotherapy treatment at a median time of 77 (IQR: 30) months post-diagnosis. The findings support an ongoing recommendation for small intrameatal vestibular schwannomas to be followed with the same magnetic resonance imaging protocols as larger tumors.