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DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1314155
Long-Term Hearing Preservation in Vestibular Schwannoma
Introduction: The aim of the present study was to evaluate long-term hearing during “wait-and-scan” management of vestibular schwannomas.
Subjects: During a 33-year period, from 1976 to 2008, 1144 patients with vestibular schwannoma were allocated to observation by the “wait-and-scan” policy, with annual magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and audiological examination. Two complete pure tone and speech discrimination audiograms were available for 932 patients. In 900 of these patients (97%), the wait-and-scan period was at least 1 year. In 377 patients (40%), the observation time was at least 5 years, and in 102 patients (11%), it was at least 10 years.
Results: At diagnosis, 491 patients (53%) presented with good hearing (i.e. speech discrimination better than 70 %). Following a mean of 4.7 years observation, 59% of these patients spontaneously preserved the good hearing. Of patients with 100% speech discrimination at diagnosis, 69% maintained good hearing after more than 10 years of observation. Of patients with only a small discrimination loss at diagnosis, 38% maintained good hearing.
Conclusion: A majority of vestibular schwannoma patients with 100% speech discrimination at diagnosis maintain good hearing even after many years of observation.