Coordinated Same- or Next-Day Radiosurgery and Cochlear Implantation for Vestibular Schwannoma

To describe the experience and results from coordinated and closely scheduled radiosurgery and cochlear implantation (CI) in a vestibular schwannoma (VS) cohort.

Patients with VS who underwent radiosurgery followed by CI on the same or next day.

Interventions included sequential radiosurgery and CI.

Tumor control defined by tumor growth on posttreatment surveillance and audiometric outcomes including consonant-nucleus-consonant words and AzBio sentences in quiet.

In total, six patients were identified that met the inclusion criteria, with an age range of 38 to 69 years and tumor sizes ranging from 2.0 to 16.3 mm. All patients successfully underwent radiosurgery and CI on the same or immediately successive day. Postoperatively, all patients obtained open-set speech recognition. Consonant-nucleus-consonant word scores ranged from 40 to 88% correct, and AzBio scores ranged from 44 to 94% correct. During posttreatment magnetic resonance imaging surveillance, which ranged from 12 to 68 months, all tumors were noted to be adequately visualized, and no tumor progression was noted.

Coordinated radiosurgery and CI can be safely performed in patients with VS on the same or next day, serving to decrease burden on patients and increase access to this vital rehabilitative strategy.