Microsurgical Management of Trigeminal Schwannoma: Cohort Analysis and Systematic Review

• Published in: Journal of neurological surgery. Part B, Skull base Vol. 80; no. 3; pp. 264 - 269
• Main Authors: Neves, Maick Willen Fernandes, de Aguiar, Paulo Henrique Pires, Belsuzarri, Telmo Augusto Barba, de Araujo, André Monteiro Soares, Paganelli, Samantha Lorena, Maldaun, Marcos Vinicius Calfat
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Stuttgart · New York Georg Thieme Verlag KG 01.06.2019
• Subjects: Original; Original Article; brain tumor; radiosurgery; microsurgery; trigeminal schwannoma
• ISSN: 2193-6331; 2193-634X
• DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1669418

Abstract Background  Trigeminal schwannomas are benign tumors with a predilection for women between 40 and 60 years of age and account for less than 0.5% of all intracranial tumors. Clinical presentation depends on size and location, and typical symptoms are ipsilateral hypesthesia, headache, and facial pain. Clinical features and imaging usually make the Diagnosis. Methods  A retrospective cohort analysis of 14 patients treated at our institution between January 1999 and October 2016 was performed, with a critical and systematic review of data from the literature, focusing on articles published over the same period. Results  Fourteen patients were included in our series comprised of mostly women with a mean age of 40 years. Lesion size ranged from 3 to 6.5 cm (mean 4.6 cm). Clinical status of patients was evaluated and also rated based on the Karnofsky Perfomance Scale with values greater than 90% found in all patients pre and postoperatively. Surgery was our treatment of choice, and gross total resection was achieved in 71% of patients. Associated morbidity was high at 57%, predominantly from cranial nerve palsy, and no deaths were encountered. Conclusions  Microsurgery is a suitable treatment for large symptomatic trigeminal schwannomas, achieving good local control rates over the observation period at acceptable morbidity. Therefore, microsurgery appears to a suitable option. During the study period, a significant evolution in the availability of treatment methods occurred. Radiosurgery emerged as an alternative treatment for unresectable lesions. A comprehensive review of the available literature was performed, and results were compared according to treatment modality.