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. 2011 Aug 30;2:55. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2011.00055

Vestibular Function and Quality of Life in Vestibular Schwannoma: Does Size Matter?

Judith Nastjenka Wagner 1,*, Miriam Glaser 1, Berndt Wowra 2, Alexander Muacevic 2, Roland Goldbrunner 3, Christian Cnyrim 4, Jörg-Christian Tonn 5, Michael Strupp 1
PMCID: PMC3171060  PMID: 21941519

Abstract

Objectives: Patients with vestibular schwannoma (VS) frequently suffer from disabling vestibular symptoms. This prospective follow-up study evaluates vestibular and auditory function and impairment of quality of life due to vertigo, dizziness, and imbalance in patients with unilateral VS of different sizes before/after microsurgical or radiosurgical treatment. Methods: Thirty-eight patients with unilateral VS were included. Twenty-two received microsurgery, 16 CyberKnife radiosurgery. Two follow-ups took place after a median of 50 and 186.5 days. Patients received a standardized neuro-ophthalmological examination, electronystagmography with bithermal caloric testing, and pure-tone audiometry. Quality of life was evaluated with the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI). Patient data was grouped and analyzed according to the size of the VS (group 1: <20 mm vs group 2: ≥20 mm). Results: In group 1, the median loss of vestibular function was +10.5% as calculated by Jongkees Formula (range −43 to +52; group 2: median +36%, range −56 to +90). The median change of DHI scores was −9 in group 1 (range −68 to 30) and +2 in group 2 (−54;+20). Median loss of hearing was 4 dB (−42; 93) in group 1 and 12 dB in group 2 (5; 42). Conclusion: Loss of vestibular function in VS clearly correlates with tumor size. However, loss of vestibular function was not strictly associated with a long-term deterioration of quality of life. This may be due to central compensation of vestibular deficits in long-standing large tumors. Loss of hearing before treatment was significantly influenced by the age of the patient but not by tumor size. At follow-up 1 and 2, hearing was significantly influenced by the size of the VS and the manner of treatment.

Keywords: vestibular schwannoma, vertigo, microsurgery, CyberKnife

Introduction

Vestibular schwannoma (VS) is a benign tumor arising from the Schwann cells surrounding the vestibular nerve. With an annual incidence of 9.4/1,000,000, it is one of the more common benign intracranial tumors (Tos et al., 1992). VSs grow within the internal auditory canal and may extend into the cerebellopontine angle. Next to loss of hearing and tinnitus, dizziness, or unsteadiness of gait are common symptoms.

Vestibular deficits have been shown to severely affect quality of life (Pérez et al., 2003; Kammerlind et al., 2005). However, most patients with a chronic loss of vestibular function regain their balance due to the process of central vestibular compensation. Central vestibular compensation consists of multiple processes of perceptual, vestibulo-ocular, and vestibulo-spinal readjustment after unilateral and also bilateral vestibular loss. It has been shown to be rapid and mostly complete for static conditions. For dynamic conditions (i.e., associated with high-frequency head movements) it is often incomplete (for review see Brandt, 2000).

Treatment for VS is traditionally surgical. Due to technical improvements, the outcome has greatly improved since the first operation on a VS by Sir Charles Balance in 1894. However, the intervention is associated with potential risks including hearing loss, facial nerve palsy, brainstem/cerebellar injury, cerebrospinal fluid fistula, hydrocephalus, meningitis as well as with general risks associated with microsurgery and anesthesia (Tonn et al., 2000). Since the first reported case of a VS treated by radiosurgery, this approach has become a viable alternative to the microsurgical approach (Leksell, 1983; Delbrouck et al., 2003; Sughrue et al., 2009). Radiosurgery involves the single session application of a high single dose of radiation to a precisely controlled intracranial location, aiming to inhibit further tumor growth by inducing avascular necrosis (Mack et al., 2002; Hempel et al., 2006). Usually, hospitalization is not required with this method. However, it is not without risk, possible complications including injury of the facial or cochlear nerve, vertigo, hydrocephalus, headaches, and tinnitus (Mack et al., 2002; Delbrouck et al., 2003; Hayhurst et al., 2005).

Since the first prospective follow-up of vestibular morbidity after treatment for VS in 2006, multiple analyses of the functional outcome in these patients have been published (Pollock et al., 2006). However, only few studies were conducted in a prospective way (Myrseth et al., 2009). Furthermore, although vertigo, dizziness, and unsteadiness of gait are common symptoms of VS (reported incidence between 49 and 66%), these symptoms were often only assessed in a qualitative or semi-quantitative way (El-Kashlan et al., 1998; Lynn et al., 1999; Heerma et al., 2000; Inoue et al., 2001; Humphriss et al., 2003).

We present a prospective pilot study on patients with VS of different sizes before and after radio- or microsurgical treatment. The influence of the tumor and the treatment on the function of the cranial nerves V, VII, VIII is investigated. The main focus of interest is on the investigation of the vestibular nerve function. We assess morbidity due to dizziness and unsteadiness of gait in two groups of patients – defined according to tumor size – using extensive vestibular testing and standardized testing for impairment of quality of life due to vertigo/imbalance. By comparing two groups of patients with VS who differ according to tumor size – and hence level of vestibular loss of function – we aim to elucidate the role of vestibular compensation on quality of life in unilateral vestibular disease.

Patients and Methods

Patients

Thirty-eight patients (21 male, 17 female) with unilateral VS were included (median age 49 years, range 28–76). Twenty-two received microsurgery, 16 radiosurgery. Decision as to the treatment modality was made according to tumor size (largest diameter >2.5 cm was an indication for microsurgery), patient preference, and diagnostic issues (i.e., in those cases, in which the diagnosis of VS was uncertain, microsurgery was preferred). Follow-ups took place after a median of 50 (33 patients) and 186.5 days (37 patients; some patients received the second follow-up only).

Assessment of tumor size

For tumor volumetry, the dose planning software (MultiPlan™) of the CK system is used. The tumor is outlined in every MRI slice resulting in a tumor region of interest (ROI). Then, multiplated by the slice thickness all ROIs are summed up to calculate the tumor volume.

Microsurgery

Surgery was performed with resection of the tumor via a retrosigmoidal craniectomy. During all phases of tumor dissection, electrophysiological neuromonitoring was performed by EMG for facial nerve function and BAEP for hearing function, provided there was preserved hearing preoperatively. After watertight closure of the dura, the craniectomy was sealed with bone cement.

Radiosurgery

All radiosurgical treatments were performed in an outpatient setting. The CyberKnife is a frameless, image-guided robotic radiosurgery system (Adler et al., 1997). The therapeutic radiation is generated by a small linear accelerator (linac) mounted on the robotic arm. A G3 and a G4 linac were used in this study. The dose rate (6 MeV Photon radiation) was 3 Gy/min with the G3, and 6 Gy/min with the G4. Treatment planning was performed with the Multiplan Software (Accuray Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, USA). Radiosurgery with the CyberKnife applies a non-coplanar, non-isocentric treatment plan, which allows the delivery of a homogeneous dose distribution with a steep dose gradient. The dose prescription for VS was 12.5 – 13 Gy at the tumor margin which corresponded to the 65–70% isodose.

Neuro-ophthalmological and -otological examination

All patients underwent a full and standardized neuro-ophthalmological and -otological examination with special emphasis on spontaneous nystagmus with Frenzel’s goggles in primary position, lateral and vertical gaze direction, gaze-evoked nystagmus, horizontal head impulse test, and determination of the subjective visual vertical (SVV).

Clinical assessment

Patients were assessed as to the presence of vertigo/unsteadiness of gait, facial paresis, and hyp- or paraesthesia on the side of the face ipsilateral to the VS.

Electronystagmography

Bithermal caloric testing was performed in all patients. Water irrigation was performed for 30 s at 30°C for the cool irrigation and 44°C for the warm irrigation. The mean peak slow phase velocity (SPV) was determined with Igor Pro Wave Metric (version 3.13) software. Since there is a large intersubject variability of the nystagmus induced by caloric irrigation and a small intraindividual variability of the response of the right and the left labyrinth in healthy subjects, the Jongkees’ “vestibular paresis formula”: (((R30° + R44°) − (L30° + L44°))/(R30° + R44° + L30° + L44°))× 100, was used, where, for instance, R30° is the mean peak SPV during caloric irrigation with 30°C water (Jongkees et al., 1962). Absolute values were used to quantify (in percent) the unilateral weakness of the affected ear.

Audiometry

Patients received standard pure-tone audiometry. The mean auditory loss was calculated from loss of hearing (dB) at 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz.

Assessment of quality of life

Impairment of quality of life by dizziness was evaluated with the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI). The inventory consists of 25 questions pertaining to the impairment of quality of life by vertigo/imbalance. The maximum score is 100, the minimum score 0 points (a high score indicating a greater impairment of quality of life by dizziness).

Statistics

The Stata/IC 11.1 software (Stata Corp. 4905 Lakeway Dr., College Station, TX 77845, USA) and Microsoft Excel was used for statistical analysis. Tumor size and vestibular function as measured by Jongkee’s formula and DHI scores respectively were correlated using Spearman’s correlation coefficient. Comparisons between the groups regarding tumor size, DHI scores, and vestibular function were evaluated using the t-test for independent samples. Analysis of variance (ANOVA/MANCOVA) and regression analysis was used to assess the influence of predictor variables (patient’s sex and age, tumor side, tumor diameter, treatment method) on outcome variables (function of cranial nerves V, VII, VIII, especially the vestibular nerve function). Non-parametric statistical dependence between two variables was assessed by Spearman’s rank correlation test. Two-group-proportion tests were performed to compare dichotomous variables before and after treatment. The differences in mean values were calculated with t-tests. A threshold of 0.05 was applied.

Ethics

All methods used were approved by the local ethics committee.

Results

Group 1 (VS < 20 mm) comprised 21 patients, group 2 (VS ≥ 20 mm) 18 patients. Patients in either group did not differ regarding age and gender (group 1: median age 46 years, 12 male; group 2: median age 52 years, 9 male). Due to selection criteria (i.e., smaller tumors were more often treated radiosurgically than large ones), patients in group 1 more frequently received CyberKnife treatment (14 patients), whereas in group 2, patients were more often treated microsurgically (16 patients).

Group 1 (VS < 20 mm)

Vestibular function

All patients received bithermal caloric testing at baseline, i.e., before treatment. Caloric testing was performed in 17 patients at the first and 19 patients at the second follow-up. At baseline, patients in this group had a median reduction of vestibular function of 38% (relative to unaffected side according to Jongkee’s formula; range 6–100%). The patients had a moderate deterioration of vestibular function [52% (18; 100%) reduction at the first and 53% (9; 100%) at the second follow-up], resulting in a complete vestibular paresis in four patients (Figure 1).

Figure 1.

Figure 1

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Median vestibular function measured according to Jongkee’s formula after caloric irrigation, auditory loss, and impairment of quality of life according to the DHI score at baseline, follow-up 1, and follow-up 2 for VS < 20 mm (median; interquartile range). Despite a moderate deterioration of vestibular function, quality of life improved.

Neuro-ophthalmology findings

In one patient, spontaneous nystagmus in primary position was detected on clinical examination before treatment. In this patient, spontaneous nystagmus persisted on the first follow-up and had disappeared by the second follow-up. In one patient without spontaneous nystagmus at baseline, spontaneous nystagmus was detected after treatment. Gaze-evoked nystagmus was present in five patients before treatment. In three of them, the nystagmus persisted after treatment, in the other two it had disappeared on the first follow-up. One other patient displayed gaze-evoked nystagmus after treatment. The head impulse test revealed a loss of the horizontal vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) on the affected side in 10 patients of this group before treatment. In an additional four patients the head impulse test became pathological after treatment. Mean deviation of the SVV increased slightly from 1.3° at baseline to 1.6° and 2.1° at the first and second follow-up. However, this increase was not significant.

Auditory function

The median loss of hearing was 28 dB (12; 80) at baseline, 33 dB (8; deafness) at follow-up 1 and 37 dB (10; deafness) at follow-up 2.1 patient was deaf after treatment (microsurgery).

Symptoms and other clinical findings

Eighteen patients reported dizziness or unsteadiness of gait before radio-/microsurgery. In 17 of them, dizziness/unsteadiness was continuously present. Ten patients suffered from vertigo attacks. Post-treatment, 14 patients complained of dizziness/unsteadiness of gait (in 13 of these, the symptoms had been present before the intervention), 2 patients had vertigo attacks. One of the patients had a transient facial paresis before treatment, none had a facial paresis after treatment. One patient reported facial paresthesia before and after treatment. In two patients, preexisting facial paresthesia disappeared after treatment, in another two patients, facial paresthesia first appeared after treatment.

Quality of life

The median DHI score at baseline was 32 in this group (range 0–68). At the first follow-up the median score was 26, at the second follow-up 19. In the two patients with complete vestibular paresis, self estimation of quality of life by DHI deteriorated in two and slightly improved in the other two cases. Median change of DHI scores (baseline – last follow-up available) was −9 (−68; 30).

Group 2 (VS ≥ 20 mm)

Vestibular function

In this group, one patient had a complete unilateral vestibular paresis before and 11 patients after treatment. Patients in this group deteriorated from a median vestibular reduction of function of 64% before treatment (range 0–100) to 76% (first follow-up; range 60–100) and 100% (second follow-up; range 7–100; Figure 2).

Figure 2.

Figure 2

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Median vestibular function measured according to Jongkee’s formula after caloric irrigation, auditory loss, and impairment of quality of life according to the DHI score at baseline, follow-up 1, and follow-up 2 for VS ≥ 20 mm (median; interquartile range). Despite a marked deterioration of vestibular function, DHI scores remained relatively stable.

Neuro-ophthalmology findings

Only one patient in group 2 had spontaneous nystagmus in primary position before and after treatment (this patient had suffered a periprocedural cerebellar ischemia). None of the other patients developed spontaneous nystagmus post-treatment. Gaze-evoked nystagmus was present in eight patients before treatment. In five of these patients, the nystagmus persisted afterward. The head impulse test was pathological on the affected side in 11 patients before, and in 14 patients after treatment. Mean deviation of the SVV increased from 2.0° at baseline to 2.2° at the first follow-up and to 3.0° at the second follow-up.

Auditory function

The median loss of hearing was 46 dB (10; 75) at baseline, 54 dB (15; deafness) at follow-up 1 and 59 dB (20; deafness) at follow-up 2. Eight patients were deaf after treatment (all microsurgery).

Symptoms and other clinical findings

Twelve patients reported dizziness or unsteadiness of gait at baseline, with four patients suffering from vertigo attacks. After treatment, 14 patients complained of dizziness/unsteadiness of gait, with 2 patients suffering from vertigo attacks. One of the patients had a facial paresis before and after treatment, another one had a transient facial paresis before treatment. One patient developed a persisting facial paresis after surgery. None of the patients reported facial hyp- or paresthesia before treatment. In four patients, this symptom appeared after microsurgery. One patient suffered a periprocedural right hemispheric cerebellar ischemia.

Quality of life

The median DHI score at baseline was 20 in this group (range 0–54). At the first follow-up the median score was 6, at the second follow-up 22. Median change of DHI scores (baseline – last follow-up available) was +2 in (range −54 to +20). In those patients with measurable vestibular function at baseline who progressed to complete unilateral vestibular paresis, median DHI change was +2 (−32; 20). Evaluation of DHI scores at baseline or at the follow-ups revealed no correlation with tumor size in either group. The surprisingly low median DHI at the first follow-up may be due to confounding by the fact that those patients with severe symptoms were not available at the first follow-up as they were still in rehabilitative care.

Group 1 vs. group 2

The different tumor sizes in the two groups are reflected in the higher degree of loss of vestibular function in group 2 before and after surgery (64, 76, and 100% at baseline, first follow-up and second follow-up vs 38, 52, and 53% in group 1). DHI scores, reflecting the impairment of quality of life in the two groups, did not differ significantly at baseline and follow-up 2 (20, 6, and 22 at baseline, first follow-up and second follow-up vs 32, 26, and 19 in group 1). The majority of patients in each group complained about vertigo: 86%/67% in group 1 and 67%/78% in group 2 (before/after treatment). However, vertigo attacks were more frequent in patients with small VS before treatment (48%/10% in group 1 vs 22%/11% in group 2 pre-/post-treatment). Facial and trigeminal dysfunction was encountered more frequently in group 2, reflecting the larger size of the VS and the higher rate of microsurgical interventions in this group. The degree of loss of hearing before treatment was significantly influenced by the age of the patient (p < 0.001) but not by tumor size. At follow-up 1 and 2, hearing was significantly worse in those patients with a large VS. Age was not a significant determinant for loss of hearing on the follow-up visits (p < 0.08).

Micro- vs radiosurgery

To complement comparison between patients grouped according to the size of their tumor, we also compared patients according to the method of treatment used. Follow-up intervals did not differ between patients treated with either technique [radiosurgery: median 62.5 days at follow-up 1 (44; 117), 208 days at follow-up 2 (166; 383); microsurgery: median 56.5 days (30; 114) and 195 days (117; 302)]. Tumor size differed significantly [p < 0.00001; mean 10.13 mm (radiosurgery) vs 23.64 mm (microsurgery)]. Whereas there was no significant loss of hearing after radiosurgery, microsurgery did alter hearing significantly (p < 0.001). Loss of vestibular function and impairment of quality of life (DHI) on follow-up 1 were more pronounced in the microsurgery group. This did not apply to follow-up 2. The method of treatment did not significantly influence the evolution of vestibular function between baseline and follow-up 2. Neither did the patients’ sex or the size and side of the VS.

Discussion

Aim of the study and major findings

The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the effect of loss of vestibular function on quality of life in patients with VS of different sizes treated with micro- and radiosurgery. Whereas most previous studies relied on qualitative or semi-quantitative parameters to quantify dizziness, we documented vestibular function using electronystagmography with bithermal caloric testing and the head impulse test (Lynn et al., 1999; Darrouzet et al., 2004; Hempel et al., 2006). We also looked for central oculomotor and vestibular dysfunction by a standardized neuro-ophthalmological examination, as well as loss of auditory function and other cranial nerve disorders. Quality of life was assessed using the standardized DHI.

The results of this study allow drawing the following conclusions: loss of auditory function does not correlate with the size of the VS but with the method of treatment used. In contrast, the loss of vestibular function clearly correlates with the size of the schwannoma. In both groups (VS < 20 mm vs VS ≥ 20 mm), micro- and radiosurgery cause a further decrease of vestibular function. However, the degree of loss of vestibular function does not correlate with the impairment of activities of daily living due to vertigo.

Vertigo and quality of life in large VS

Previous studies show that dizziness and unsteadiness of gait are common symptoms in patients with VS (Parving et al., 1992; Driscoll et al., 1998; Lynn et al., 1999; Inoue et al., 2001; Darrouzet et al., 2004). In our study, 64% of patients in group 2 complained of these symptoms before treatment. In this group, more than 50% of the patients suffered from complete vestibular paresis after micro-/radiosurgery as assessed by caloric testing and clinically by the head–thrust test. Nonetheless, DHI scores in this group were lower than in group 1 pre-treatment and remain relatively stable in the post-operative follow-up with a median progression of +2.

A possible explanation for this effect is that due to the severe loss of vestibular function pre-treatment, central vestibular compensation has already occurred. The major neuronal change in the vestibular nuclei during central vestibular compensation appears to be the recovery of resting activity in the vestibular nuclei ipsilateral to the loss of peripheral vestibular input. There is also evidence from animal data that transcommissural synaptic input to the vestibular nuclei from the contralateral labyrinth increases in efficacy (Smith and Darlington, 1991; Curthoys and Halmagyi, 1999). Furthermore, visual compensation may contribute to central vestibular compensation to reduce balance deficits (Pyykkö et al., 1995).

Vertigo and quality of life in small VS

As in group 2, most patients in group 1 reported subjective dizziness or unsteadiness of gait. Although the size of the VS and the degree of loss of vestibular function before treatment were significantly lower than in group 2, DHI scores were slightly – although not significantly – higher at baseline in this group. Whereas DHI scores in group 2 remain stable pre- and post-treatment, they drop by almost 40% after treatment in group 1.

This may be due to two factors. First of all, steady growth of the neuroma with constant change in the vestibular input of the affected side renders central vestibular compensation more difficult compared to a scenario with complete – or almost complete – but stable unilateral loss of vestibular function. Previous reports support the hypothesis that changes in vestibular function affect the quality of life more severely than the absolute degree of loss of function: a metaanalysis reports a higher incidence of vertigo in patients treated with low-dose gamma-knife radiation rather than a high-dose radiation (Sughrue et al., 2009). The authors claim that this may be due to a more complete dysfunction of the vestibular nerve in the high-dose group. Another study reports a higher incidence of pre-treatment vertigo in patients with small and medium-sized VSs as compared to large schwannomas (>4 cm; Heerma et al., 2000). In a detailed description of the sensorimotor postural rearrangement after unilateral vestibular deafferentation in patients with VS, Parietti-Winkler et al. (2006) found a poorer postural performance of patients before surgery compared to that found 3 months post-operative. They assume that this reflects an inappropriate central compensation of the tonic imbalance of the descending vestibulo-spinal influences during tumor growth.

Furthermore, small VSs encroaching on an otherwise intact vestibular nerve are likely to cause vertigo attacks which provoke particular discomfort in patients. In our study, almost 50% of patients in group 1 suffered from vertigo attacks as compared to only 22% in group 2, whereas there was little difference in the rate of continuous unsteadiness/dizziness. The number of patients suffering from these particularly disabling vertigo attacks dropped by almost 40% after treatment. Hence, the improvement in quality of life after radio-/microsurgery may be due to central compensation in the setting of a stable vestibular function as well as to a reduction of vertigo attacks.

Conclusion

Whereas loss of vestibular function in VS tends to be more severe in large tumors, tumor size does not predict loss of quality of life as assessed by DHI. This may be explained by central compensation of vestibular deficits in long-standing large tumors. Furthermore, vertigo attacks seem to be more disruptive of quality of life than permanent unsteadiness/dizziness. Hence, even patients with small VS should be recommended for treatment if they suffer from disabling vertigo attacks.

The treatment modality (radio- vs microsurgery) should be chosen on the basis of individual patient characteristics. Important determinants are tumor size, diagnostic certainty, and patient preference. Furthermore, the results of our study suggest that the method of treatment does not influence the long-term (i.e., follow-up 2) outcome concerning vestibular function and quality of life. However, deterioration of hearing is more pronounced after micro- than after radiosurgery.

Shortcomings of this trial are the relatively small number of patients included and the selection bias regarding the choice of treatment modality. In order to further investigate hearing and vestibular function after radio- and microsurgery in VS and to evaluate whether maintenance of vestibular function proves to be advantageous for quality of life in the long course, we suggest further follow-ups after two and more years post-treatment in a larger group of patients who are more homogenous concerning tumor size.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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