Posterior petrous bone meningiomas: surgical experience in 53 patients and literature review.

Meningiomas of the posterior fossa represent a heterogeneous group of tumors regarding difficulty of resection and functional outcome. The aim of this review was to focus on tumors located mainly on the posterior surface of the petrous bone and threatening hearing and facial functions. An anatomical classification was used to evaluate surgical outcome depending on the relationship of the tumor to the internal auditory meatus.

Conservative management versus surgery for small vestibular schwannomas.

A high rate of deterioration in hearing function and the loss of patient compliance during conservative management should be taken into account when considering hearing preservation strategies for patients with vestibular schwannoma (VS). To compare conservative management with surgery for solitary small VS. Among 693 patients followed up for VS between 1991 and 2002, 114 (16%) intracanalicular VSs (stage 1) and 302 (44%) VSs measuring <15 mm in the cerebellopontine angle (stage 2) were included in this study.

Clinical and Histologic Parameters Correlated with Facial Nerve Function After Vestibular Schwannoma Surgery.

This study was conducted to identify clinical and histologic factors that would influence, independently of tumor staging, postoperative facial function after removal of a vestibular schwannoma. A prospective study was performed on 35 consecutive patients with vestibular schwannomas who underwent the translabyrinthine approach. Facial function was assessed before and 1 year after surgery.

Four-channel electromyography of the facial nerve in vestibular schwannoma surgery: sensitivity and prognostic value for short-term facial function outcome.

Objective: To evaluate the short-term facial prognostic value of a four-channel facial electromyographic device in vestibular schwannoma surgery.

Study Design: Eighty-nine vestibular schwannomas operated on and intraoperatively monitored by a four-channel facial electromyographic device between October 2002 and September 2003 were included in this prospective study. Detection was performed in frontal, orbicularis oculi, orbicularis oris, and platysma muscles.

Opening cerebrospinal fluid pressure guides the management of cerebrospinal fluid leakage after acoustic neuroma surgery.

Objective: To assess the value of cerebrospinal fluid pressure as a decisional factor for immediate surgical revision in cerebrospinal fluid leakage after acoustic neuroma removal.

Study Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

Auditory brainstem implant in bilateral and completely ossified cochleae.

Objective: To report and evaluate the results of auditory brainstem implantation in a case of postmeningitis hearing loss with totally ossified cochleae on both sides.

Study Design: Case report.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

[Contraception and neurology].

The purpose of this article is to clarify interactions between oral contraception (using low- and high-dose oral contraceptives) and the main neurological diseases occurring in genitally active women. Vascular disorders predominate, since contraception is in itself a well-recognized a risk factor, especially in case of other intercurrent risk factors (high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, history of vascular event) contradicting contraception. Low-dose oral contraception can be proposed for women free of these risk factors.