Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 24, 2025
Stromal Vascular Fraction-enriched Fat Grafting for the Treatment of Symptomatic End-neuromata
Published on: November 23, 2017
Intratemporal facial nerve schwannomas: multicenter experience of 80 cases
Elke Loos1,2, Nicolas Verhaert2, Vincent Darrouzet3
1Department of ENT-HNS, European Institute for Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Skull Base Surgery, Sint Augustinus Hospital, GZA, Oosterveldlaan 24, 2600, Antwerp, Belgium.
Purpose:
To provide more data on the clinical presentation and natural evolution of facial nerve schwannomas and to provide guidance for therapeutic decision making.
Methods:
A retrospective case review of eighty patients diagnosed with a facial nerve schwannoma between 1990 and 2018 in ten tertiary referral centers in Europe was performed. Patients' demographics, symptomatology, audiometry, anatomical site (segments involved), size and whenever possible volume measurement were registered.
Results:
At presentation, transient or persistent facial palsy was the most common symptom, followed by hearing loss. The schwannoma involved more than one segment in the majority of the patients with the geniculate ganglion being most commonly involved. Initial treatment consisted of a wait and scan approach in 67.5%, surgery in 30% and radiation therapy in 2.5% of the patients. Tympanic segment schwannomas caused mainly conductive hearing loss and were more prone to develop facial palsy at follow-up. Internal auditory canal or cerebellopontine angle schwannomas presented with significantly more sensorineural hearing loss.
Conclusions:
Although modern imaging has improved diagnosis of this tumor, choosing the best treatment modality remains a real challenge. Based on the literature review and current findings, more insights into the clinical course and the management of facial nerve schwannomas are provided.
