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Updated: Dec 8, 2025
A Unified Methodological Framework for Vestibular Schwannoma Research
Published on: June 20, 2017
Middle Cranial Fossa Approach to Vestibular Schwannoma Resection in the Older Patient Population
Gavriel D Kohlberg1, Noga Lipschitz2, Arun M Raghavan2
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
Objective:
Compare outcomes of middle cranial fossa approach (MCF) to vestibular schwannoma (VS) resection in patients 60 years of age and older to patients under 60.
Study Design:
Retrospective case series.
Setting:
Tertiary referral center.
Patients:
Charts of 216 consecutive VS patients over 18 years of age were reviewed to identify 67 patients who underwent MCF approach to VS resection between 2006 and 2017.
Intervention(S):
Age at time of surgery.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
Measured outcomes included postoperative hearing results, facial nerve function, length of hospital stay, wound complications, cerebrospinal fluid leak, myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident, seizure, deep vein thrombosis, 30-day readmission, and return to operating room.
Results:
Sixty-seven patients underwent VS resection via MCF approach including 16 patients > = 60 years (mean 64.4 SD 3.3) and 51 patients < 60 years (mean 45.7 SD 10.2). Between these two groups, there were no differences in sex, tumor laterality, tumor size (10.4 mm versus 9.8 mm, p = 0.6), or other demographic characteristics. Postoperatively, there were no differences between groups in complication rates. Rates of HB 1 or 2 facial nerve function were similar (93.8% versus 88.2%, p = 0.7) as were rates of maintenance of class A or B hearing (58.3% versus 44.4%, p = 0.7).
Conclusions:
Patients over 60 undergoing MCF for VS resection experienced similar rates of postoperative complications, facial nerve outcomes, and hearing preservation compared with younger patients. MCF for VS may be considered in the older population. Further research is warranted to evaluate appropriate limitations for this approach based on age.
