eMedicine Specialties > Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery > Skull Base
Skull Base, Tumors, Other CPA Tumors: Follow-up
Updated: Feb 12, 2009
Outcome and Prognosis
The outcome and prognosis for cure from surgical resection depends on the histology, size, and location of the tumor and the approach chosen. Cessation of tumor growth from primary radiation also depends on the specific factors listed above. Expected facial palsy rates are high for primary facial schwannomas. The effect on quality of life from facial nerve palsy is quite significant. Results also depend on the experience and skills of the surgeon.
Future and Controversies
Further advances in surgical techniques and radiotherapy are being made. Endoscopic surgical techniques in the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) have improved visualization of the tumor and adjacent structures. Stereotactic methods have improved accuracy of the delivery of microsurgical dissection and radiation therapy, thus minimizing damage to adjacent tissue. New radiation delivery protocols, although incompletely followed up, show some promise as primary or adjuvant therapy of some of these lesions.
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Follow-up: Skull Base, Tumors, Other CPA Tumors |
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References
Haberkamp TJ, Monsell EM, House WF, Levine SC, Piazza L. Diagnosis and treatment of arachnoid cysts of the posterior fossa. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. Oct 1990;103(4):610-4. [Medline].
Langman AW, Jackler RK, Althaus SR. Meningioma of the internal auditory canal. Am J Otol. May 1990;11(3):201-4. [Medline].
Lo WM. Tumors of the temporal bone and cerebellopontine angle. In: Som PM, Bergeron RT, eds. Head and Neck Imaging. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 1991.
McElveen JT, Saunders JE. Tumors of the cerebellopontine angle: neuro-otologic aspects of diagnosis. In: Wilkins RH, Rengachary SS, eds. Neurosurgery. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 1996:1038-1048.
Nadol JB. Cerebellopontine angle tumors. In: Nadol JB, Schuknecht, HF, eds. Surgery of the Ear and Temporal Bone. New York, NY: Raven Press; 1993:391-413.
Further Reading
Keywords
skull base tumors, skull tumors, CPA tumors, cerebellopontine angle tumors, intracranial tumors, posterior fossa neoplasms, lateral skull base neoplasms, nonacoustic cerebellopontine angle tumors, non-acoustic CPA tumors, vestibular schwannomas, acoustic neuromas, lipomas, vascular malformations, hemangiomas, meningiomas, epidermoids, cholesteatomas, facial schwannomas, lower cranial nerve schwannomas
Follow-up: Skull Base, Tumors, Other CPA Tumors