Standardization in reporting results of acoustic tumor surgery

The number of surgical reports from acoustic tumor removal has increased as the competency level of surgeons has increased. Proposed for acceptance as standards in reporting are 1) maximum diameter of the tumor as judged by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging in millimeters or centimeters, 2) presence or absence of IV ventricle displacement, indentation, or deformation, 3) preoperative and postoperative speech audiometry, 4) specific nomenclature as to the anatomic surgical approach with total or partial removals, 5) specific description of anatomic preservation of the facial nerve, specifying immediate postoperative function, and 6) use of the John House facial nerve function grading system. These guidelines were adopted by the authors for standardizing reporting results in 110 consecutive operations for acoustic tumors performed between 1976 and 1986.