Delayed symptomatic cerebral vasospasm following vestibular schwannoma resection: illustrative case.

BACKGROUND: Symptomatic cerebral vasospasm following posterior fossa extraaxial tumor resection is a rare phenomenon, with only 13 cases previously reported in the literature. The condition appears similar to vasospasm following supratentorial tumor resection, intraaxial posterior fossa tumor resection, and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). The majority of patients were not evaluated for vasospasm prior to symptom onset, leading to a delay in diagnosis. OBSERVATIONS: The authors present their experience in a 56-year-old female who developed delayed cerebral vasospasm after excision of a solid-cystic vestibular schwannoma. Routine postoperative brain computed tomography showed evidence of subarachnoid hemorrhage in the basal cisterns. She was discharged on the 9th postoperative day. On the 11th day after tumor excision, she developed left hemiparesis, dysarthria, and dysphagia and was readmitted. Angiography confirmed bilateral diffuse cerebral vasospasm. The patient responded to standard hyperdynamic therapy used for vasospasm secondary to aSAH. LESSONS: Symptomatic distant cerebral vasospasm after posterior fossa extraaxial tumor excision is a rare but challenging complication with a very high morbidity rate in reported cases. A high index of suspicion is required for early diagnosis and prompt management for a favorable outcome.

SRS for Vestibular Schwannomas - Current Status.

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is an established modality of treatment for vestibular schwannomas (VS). We aim to summarize the evidence-based use of SRS in VSs and address the specific considerations pertaining to the same, along with our own clinical experiences. A thorough review of the literature was done to gather evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of SRS in VSs. Additionally, we have reviewed the senior author's experience in treating VSs (N = 294) between 2009 and 2021 and our experiences with microsurgery in post-SRS patients. Available scientific evidence upholds the role of SRS in VSs, in small-to-medium-sized tumors (5-year local tumor control >95%). The risk of adverse radiation effects remains minimal, while the hearing preservation rates are variable. Our center's post-GammaKnife VS follow-up cohort (sporadic - 157, neurofibromatosis-2 - 14) showed excellent tumor control rates at the last follow-up of 95.5% (sporadic) and 93.8% (neurofibromatosis-2), with a median margin dose of 13 Gy and mean follow-up periods of 3.6 (sporadic) and 5.2 (neurofibromatosis-2) years. Microsurgery in post-SRS VSs poses a formidable challenge due to the resulting thickened arachnoid and adhesions to critical neurovascular structures. Near-total excision is the key to better functional outcomes in such cases. SRS is here to stay as a trusted alternative in the management of VSs. Further studies are required to propose means of accurate prediction of hearing preservation rates and also to compare the relative efficacies of various SRS modalities.

Segmental Schwannomatosis of the Lower Extremity - A Case Series.

Segmental schwannomatosis involving a nerve in single limb is uncommon. Schwannomatosis is used to describe a distinct clinicopathological disease of multiple schwannomas without manifestations of neurofibromatosis, and it is termed segmental when a single extremity is involved. Surgery is indicated when there is progressive clinical deterioration or progressive increase in size of the tumors. We present a case series of segmental schwannomatosis involving the lower limb.