Article
Our preliminary findings with fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy on acoustic neuroma
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Published: | September 22, 2005 |
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Aims: When treating patients with acoustic neuroma on one side with radiotherapy the side effects could be reduced by using a fractionated X-ray application rather than irradiation on one side. The aim of this study is to carry out continuous audiological and neurootological monitoring accompanying the treatment to record epiphenomena.
Methods: Since January 2000 a total of 48 patients have been examined before and after hypofractionated (5 x 4 Gy, every 2 days) or normofractionated treatment (30 x 1.8 Gy). Apart from subjective audiometry the range of tests included brain stem audiometry (ABR = auditory brain stem response), the blink reflex and vestibular diagnosis. The findings were collected at three or six month intervals and the data from the MRT was compared.
Results: The test results for audiometry, the ABR and vestibular diagnosis turned out to be very different but they showed a correlation to morphological conversion processes in the MRT. While the changes were sub-clinical for the facial nerve, some patients suffered a significant deterioration in initial audiological and vestibular findings even after quite long time intervals (up to 9 months).
Conclusions: The results obtained show the necessity for long term monitoring.