Subscribe to RSS
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1314194
Manchester Experience of Bevacizumab (Avastin) for Vestibular Schwannoma in Type II Neurofibromatosis
Objective: Describe the early experience of bevacizumab treatment in four patients with type II neurofibromatosis.
Design: Prospective analysis of four patients undergoing treatment, clinical, radiological (axial and volumetric measures), and audiologic data were recorded pre- and post-therapy.
Patients/Materials and Methods: Four patients (3 male, 1 female; ages 12–25 years) qualified for bevacizumab therapy based on the National Commissioning Guidelines. Baseline audiometry, magnetic resonance imaging, and clinical assessment were performed and compared with 3 monthly follow-up studies.
Results: All patients tolerated therapy without significant side effects. Radiological measures showed stable lesion size in all lesions. Three patients showed neurological improvement and two also showed radiological improvement. Rebound growth was seen in one patient on cessation of treatment.
Conclusions: Bevacizumab is well tolerated with minimal side effects. Both clinical and radiological improvement was seen in patients.