Facial nerve schwannomas: management and facial function results

Objectives: To evaluate the clinical features, diagnosis, treatment options, surgical approaches, and postoperative functional results of facial nerve schwannomas.Methods: The charts of patients affected by facial nerve (FN) schwannomas that were surgically treated at La Paz Hospital between 1992 an...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Pablo Casas, Luis Lassaletta, Maria Jose Sarriá, John Gavilán
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Galenos Yayincilik 2007-03-01
Series:Turkish Archives of Otorhinolaryngology
Subjects:
Online Access: http://turkarchotolaryngol.net/archives/archive-detail/article-preview/facial-nerve-schwannomas-management-and-facial-fun/43627
_version_ 1797908221824860160
author Pablo Casas
Luis Lassaletta
Maria Jose Sarriá
John Gavilán
author_facet Pablo Casas
Luis Lassaletta
Maria Jose Sarriá
John Gavilán
author_sort Pablo Casas
collection DOAJ
description Objectives: To evaluate the clinical features, diagnosis, treatment options, surgical approaches, and postoperative functional results of facial nerve schwannomas.Methods: The charts of patients affected by facial nerve (FN) schwannomas that were surgically treated at La Paz Hospital between 1992 and 2003 were retrospectively analyzed. Eight cases were included in the study. For all of the patients, the following variables were recorded: age at surgery, sex, initial symptoms, evolution of the facial palsy, lenght of facial palsy, preoperative and postoperative hearing levels, extent of the tumor, surgical approach, facial nerve repair technique, eye closure achievement and length of the follow-up. Preoperative and postoperative FN function was graded according to the House-Brackmann scale.Results: All patients had some degree of facial dysfunction at the time of surgery, facial palsy being the first symptom in 4 patients. Seven patients were affected by conductive or sensorineural hearing loss before surgery. Five patients presented with tinnitus, three with instability, three with pain, and one with othorrea. Lesions were located along the entire length of the nerve. A correct preoperative diagnosis of facial schwannoma was made in 4 cases. The FN was involved by the tumor and had to be interrupted and reconstructed in all the cases. All patients showed a postoperative facial grade III or IV.Conclusion: FN schwannomas should be considered in the differential diagnosis of facial nerve paralysis. However the possibility of normal facial motor function may be considered. As different therapeutic options may be adopted, the management must be individualized, and implication of the patient in the final decision is recommended.
first_indexed 2024-04-10T10:49:19Z
format Article
id doaj.art-dd10b254e59f427596d9d83e5f9414f3
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2667-7474
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-10T10:49:19Z
publishDate 2007-03-01
publisher Galenos Yayincilik
record_format Article
series Turkish Archives of Otorhinolaryngology
spelling doaj.art-dd10b254e59f427596d9d83e5f9414f32023-02-15T16:20:12ZengGalenos YayincilikTurkish Archives of Otorhinolaryngology2667-74742007-03-01451263210.2399/tao.05.07113049054Facial nerve schwannomas: management and facial function resultsPablo Casas0Luis Lassaletta1Maria Jose Sarriá2John Gavilán3 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain Department of Otorhinolaryngology, La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain Department of Otorhinolaryngology, La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain Department of Otorhinolaryngology, La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain Objectives: To evaluate the clinical features, diagnosis, treatment options, surgical approaches, and postoperative functional results of facial nerve schwannomas.Methods: The charts of patients affected by facial nerve (FN) schwannomas that were surgically treated at La Paz Hospital between 1992 and 2003 were retrospectively analyzed. Eight cases were included in the study. For all of the patients, the following variables were recorded: age at surgery, sex, initial symptoms, evolution of the facial palsy, lenght of facial palsy, preoperative and postoperative hearing levels, extent of the tumor, surgical approach, facial nerve repair technique, eye closure achievement and length of the follow-up. Preoperative and postoperative FN function was graded according to the House-Brackmann scale.Results: All patients had some degree of facial dysfunction at the time of surgery, facial palsy being the first symptom in 4 patients. Seven patients were affected by conductive or sensorineural hearing loss before surgery. Five patients presented with tinnitus, three with instability, three with pain, and one with othorrea. Lesions were located along the entire length of the nerve. A correct preoperative diagnosis of facial schwannoma was made in 4 cases. The FN was involved by the tumor and had to be interrupted and reconstructed in all the cases. All patients showed a postoperative facial grade III or IV.Conclusion: FN schwannomas should be considered in the differential diagnosis of facial nerve paralysis. However the possibility of normal facial motor function may be considered. As different therapeutic options may be adopted, the management must be individualized, and implication of the patient in the final decision is recommended. http://turkarchotolaryngol.net/archives/archive-detail/article-preview/facial-nerve-schwannomas-management-and-facial-fun/43627 facial nerve schwannomafacial paralysissurgical treatment
spellingShingle Pablo Casas
Luis Lassaletta
Maria Jose Sarriá
John Gavilán
Facial nerve schwannomas: management and facial function results
Turkish Archives of Otorhinolaryngology
facial nerve schwannoma
facial paralysis
surgical treatment
title Facial nerve schwannomas: management and facial function results
title_full Facial nerve schwannomas: management and facial function results
title_fullStr Facial nerve schwannomas: management and facial function results
title_full_unstemmed Facial nerve schwannomas: management and facial function results
title_short Facial nerve schwannomas: management and facial function results
title_sort facial nerve schwannomas management and facial function results
topic facial nerve schwannoma
facial paralysis
surgical treatment
url http://turkarchotolaryngol.net/archives/archive-detail/article-preview/facial-nerve-schwannomas-management-and-facial-fun/43627
work_keys_str_mv AT pablocasas facialnerveschwannomasmanagementandfacialfunctionresults
AT luislassaletta facialnerveschwannomasmanagementandfacialfunctionresults
AT mariajosesarria facialnerveschwannomasmanagementandfacialfunctionresults
AT johngavilan facialnerveschwannomasmanagementandfacialfunctionresults