The surgical management of trigeminal neuromas

Trigeminal neuromas are rare tumors that may involve any part of the nerve complex, including peripheral divisions of the nerve. These rare lesions are treated primarily surgically. We present our series of 38 patients who were treated surgically since 1981, with special emphasis on surgical approach.

We have surgically treated 38 patients with 39 trigeminal neuromas since 1981. This series of patients was reviewed with regard to clinical presentation, tumor characteristics, surgical approach, and outcome.

Sixteen women and 22 men (mean age, 48 yr) all presented with some abnormality of trigeminal dysfunction. Twenty-eight patients presented with trigeminal hypesthesia, 10 with hypesthesia also had facial pain, 3 presented with only facial pain, and 7 presented with diplopia. Eighteen patients had tumors originating from the ganglion, nine from the posterior fossa nerve root, two from the ophthalmic division, and one from the mandibular division, and nine had tumors involving both posterior and middle fossae (dumbbell type). Eighteen tumors were large (>3 cm), 16 were medium sized (2-3 cm), and 5 were small (<2 cm). Tumor location was the prime determinant of surgical approach. Patients with peripheral and ganglion type lesions were treated via an entirely extradural temporopolar approach. Lesions confined to the posterior fossa were approached via a lateral suboccipital approach. Dumbbell-shaped lesions required a combined petrosal strategy. Total resection of tumor was accomplished in 30 patients. Three patients with subtotal resection displayed malignant histology. Postoperatively, 30 patients remained with some degree of trigeminal hypesthesia, two had facial pain (one persistent and one new), and five were left with total trigeminal anesthesia. Four patients were relieved of diplopia, five were relieved of headache, and two were relieved of ataxia. There were no perioperative deaths.

Trigeminal neuroma is a surgically treatable disease that may be operated on, in many cases, via an entirely extradural approach. These lesions may be successfully resected with low morbidity and a very low rate of recurrence.