STEREOTACTIC RADIOSURGERY FOR ACOUSTIC NEUROMA - A CANADIAN PERSPECTIVE

Authors
Citation
Ib. Ross et Ch. Tator, STEREOTACTIC RADIOSURGERY FOR ACOUSTIC NEUROMA - A CANADIAN PERSPECTIVE, Canadian journal of neurological sciences, 25(4), 1998, pp. 310-314
Citations number
20
Categorie Soggetti
Clinical Neurology
ISSN journal
03171671
Volume
25
Issue
4
Year of publication
1998
Pages
310 - 314
Database
ISI
SICI code
0317-1671(1998)25:4<310:SRFAN->2.0.ZU;2-6
Abstract
Stereotactically delivered radiation is now an accepted treatment for patients with acoustic neuroma. In some cases, patient preference may be the reason for its selection, while in others neurosurgeons may sel ect it for patients who are elderly or have significant risk factors f or conventional surgery. The majority of patients with acoustic neurom a treatment with stereotactic radiosurgery have been treated with the Gamma Knife, with follow ups of over 25 years in some instances. Other radiosurgical modalities utilizing the linear accelerator have been d eveloped and appear promising, but there is no long-term: follow up. C anada does not possess a Gamma Knife facility, and its government-fund ed hospital and medical insurance agencies have made it difficult for patients to obtain reimbursement for Gamma Knife treatments in other c ountries. We review the literature to date on the various forms of rad iation treatment for acoustic neuroma and discuss the current issues f acing physicians and patients in Canada who wish to obtain their treat ment of choice.