Gamma Knife Radiosurgery
We surveyed all patients who were between five and 10 years after their radiosurgery procedure from our center. This mail-in survey included questions regarding pre-radiosurgery treatment, patient employment or retirement status, and change in level of activity after radiosurgery. Patients were asked to describe whether they had sustained a "complication" after radiosurgery and to describe that complication. Additionally patients were asked three questions:
- Did Gamma Knife radiosurgery meet your expectations?
- As you look back, was radiosurgery a good treatment choice for you?
- Would you recommend Gamma Knife radiosurgery to a friend or family member with an acoustic neuroma?
The survey was returned by 115 patients. Prior surgery had been performed in 30 patients (26%). Fifty four patients (47%) were employed at the time of radiosurgery and 37 remained so (69%). Most patients who did not remain employed reached retirement age during the course of follow up. Patients described their overall level of activity as remaining unchanged in 68%, being increased in 8%, or decreased in 24%.
When asked whether Gamma Knife radiosurgery met their initial expectations, 106 patients (92%) said yes. This included 97% of responders in the prior surgical resection group and 91% in the no resection group.
Complications were described by 36 patients (31%) and most of these were minor, 56% of which resolved. The majority of the symptoms were not those usually considered to be complications after a resection, but just typical of some of the complaints that an acoustic neuroma patient may have.
Radiosurgery was described as a "successful" treatment by 30 of 30 patients who had undergone prior surgery and by 81 (95%) of those who had not undergone a prior resection. When asked if they would recommend the procedure to a friend or family member, 109 (95%) said yes, two said no, and four said they could not answer for another person.
Acoustic
Neuroma Association Surveys
Wiegand and Fickel surveyed 832 patient members of the Acoustic Neuroma
Association and received responses from 65% who had tumor resection between
1973 and 1983.
These patients noted facial weakness in 62%, eye-related problems in 84%, depression in 38%, sleep disturbance in 26%, and speech or swallowing difficulties in 16%. Seventy percent of patients returned to work within four months. In a more recent survey of 1579 resections performed between 1989 and 1994, these authors found a 44% rate of facial weakness, an 11% rate of cerebrospinal fluid leakage (most resolved without further surgery), and persistent balance problems after one year in 9%. Recurrent or persistent tumor was found in 7.8% of patients on follow-up imaging studies.
© 2001-09 The Department of Neurosurgery, at the University of Pittsburgh. This web site is intended for educational purposes only. The information provided through this web site should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. Please see your physician before taking any medical action. Do not duplicate in any form. All rights reserved. Please read full legal disclaimer and privacy policy.
Please direct all web-specific inquiries to our web manager.