UNILATERAL ACOUSTIC TUMORS - HOW OFTEN DO THEY RECUR AFTER TRANSLABYRINTHINE REMOVAL

Unilateral acoustic tumors rarely recur after total translabyrinthine removal. Review of the patient records of the House Ear Clinic reveale d five recurrent tumors, for an approximate incidence of 0.3%. A quest ionnaire was mailed to 857 patients who were at least 9 years postoper ative and failed to find any additional recurrent tumors. No preoperat ive or intraoperative factors were identified to predict recurrence. T he average time interval from initial removal to recurrence was approx imately 10 years. Flow cytometric analysis did not reveal any fundamen tal differences between the recurrent acoustic tumor group and a large r group of 112 acoustic tumors. Based on observed growth rates of the recurrent acoustic tumors, a single gadolinium-enhanced magnetic reson ance image 5 years after surgery is advised. To prevent recurrence, a margin of normal-appearing proximal eighth cranial nerve should be rem oved and the nerve stump cauterized.