Wha-Joon Lee1, Jon E Isaacson. 1. Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: No standards exist regarding patient follow-up after complete vestibular schwannoma resection. We surveyed neurotologists and neurosurgeons to determine practice patterns. STUDY DESIGN: A nonrandomized sample of American Neurotology Society and North American Skull Base Society members was surveyed. Questions concerned years in practice, experience with vestibular schwannoma surgery, and postoperative follow-up algorithms given the scenario of complete gross tumor removal. Data were collected, tallied, and statistically analyzed. SETTING: Academic and private practice neurotologists and neurosurgeons. SUBJECTS: Nonrandom sample of American Neurotology Society and North American Skull Base Society members. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of postoperative magnetic resonance imaging scans, timing of magnetic resonance imaging scans, timing of final magnetic resonance imaging scan, timing of final visit, and variability between specialties. RESULTS: Four hundred ninety-eight surveys were sent and 135 were returned (27.1%). The average number of postoperative magnetic resonance imaging scans was 3.6 for neurotologists (range, 1-11) and 5.6 for neurosurgeons (range, 1-13). This was statistically significant (p >0.001). There was no correlation between number of magnetic resonance imaging scans and either years in practice or tumor experience. Average length of follow-up varied greatly (1 year to lifetime) but was most commonly 5 years. Eight percent of neurotologists varied their postoperative routine on the basis of surgical approach, whereas none of the neurosurgeons did. CONCLUSION: There remains no standard postoperative imaging algorithm for patients after complete vestibular schwannoma resection.
OBJECTIVE: No standards exist regarding patient follow-up after complete vestibular schwannoma resection. We surveyed neurotologists and neurosurgeons to determine practice patterns. STUDY DESIGN: A nonrandomized sample of American Neurotology Society and North American Skull Base Society members was surveyed. Questions concerned years in practice, experience with vestibular schwannoma surgery, and postoperative follow-up algorithms given the scenario of complete gross tumor removal. Data were collected, tallied, and statistically analyzed. SETTING: Academic and private practice neurotologists and neurosurgeons. SUBJECTS: Nonrandom sample of American Neurotology Society and North American Skull Base Society members. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of postoperative magnetic resonance imaging scans, timing of magnetic resonance imaging scans, timing of final magnetic resonance imaging scan, timing of final visit, and variability between specialties. RESULTS: Four hundred ninety-eight surveys were sent and 135 were returned (27.1%). The average number of postoperative magnetic resonance imaging scans was 3.6 for neurotologists (range, 1-11) and 5.6 for neurosurgeons (range, 1-13). This was statistically significant (p >0.001). There was no correlation between number of magnetic resonance imaging scans and either years in practice or tumor experience. Average length of follow-up varied greatly (1 year to lifetime) but was most commonly 5 years. Eight percent of neurotologists varied their postoperative routine on the basis of surgical approach, whereas none of the neurosurgeons did. CONCLUSION: There remains no standard postoperative imaging algorithm for patients after complete vestibular schwannoma resection.
Authors: Nick P de Boer; Stefan Böhringer; Radboud W Koot; Martijn J A Malessy; Andel G L van der Mey; Jeroen C Jansen; Erik F Hensen Journal: Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol Date: 2022-01-12 Impact factor: 3.236