Growth Patterns of Residual Tumor in Preoperatively Growing Vestibular Schwannomas.

 To analyze growth of residual vestibular schwannoma (VS) following incomplete tumor resection and determine the influence of residual location and size.  Retrospective case note and scan review.  Tertiary skull base unit.

The impact of acoustic neuroma on long-term quality-of-life outcomes in the United Kingdom.

Objective: To quantify the impact of acoustic neuroma on the quality-of-life (QOL) patients in the United Kingdom.

Study Design: Online questionnaire survey.

Patients: Members of the British Acoustic Neuroma Association received PANQOL questionnaires.

Validation of the facial dysfunction domain of the Penn Acoustic Neuroma Quality-of-Life (PANQOL) Scale.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the strength of content validity within the facial dysfunction domain of the Penn Acoustic Neuroma Quality-of-Life (PANQOL) Scale and to compare how it correlates with a facial dysfunction-specific QOL instrument (Facial Clinimetric Evaluation, FaCE). The study design is online questionnaire survey. Members of the British Acoustic Neuroma Association received both PANQOL questionnaires and the FaCE scale.

Linear accelerator radiosurgery for vestibular schwannomas: Results of medium-term follow-up.

Background: To examine tumour control, via volume changes, and the complications of linear accelerator (LINAC)-based stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) treatment of vestibular schwannomas (VSs) on medium-term follow-up.

Methods: Between September 2003 and November 2009 fifty consecutive patients with VSs treated with SRS using a marginal dose of 12.5 Gy utilizing a LINAC equipped with a micro-multileaf collimator were identified.

A United Kingdom survey of concerns, needs, and priorities reported by patients diagnosed with acoustic neuroma.

Introduction: The Patient Concerns Inventory-Acoustic Neuroma (PCI-AN) was developed to explore specifically the concerns that patients would like to discuss during their clinic consultation. The PCI covers a range of issues including hearing, intimacy, fatigue, financial/benefits, relationships, regret, and support for family. It also lists multidisciplinary team (MDT) members that patients would like to see or be referred on to.

Posaconazole responsive cerebral aspergillosis in an immunocompetent adult.

Cerebral aspergillosis is a rare manifestation of invasive aspergillosis that usually affects immunocompromised patients. There are few treatment options for recurrent disease and experiences with immunocompetent patients are lacking. We report the clinical course of an immunocompetent patient with recurrent cerebral aspergillosis, following initial treatment with burr hole aspiration and voriconazole, who showed remarkable response to posaconazole.

A national survey of facial paralysis on the quality of life of patients with acoustic neuroma.

Objective: The aim of this survey was to objectively quantify the impact of facial palsy on the quality of life of acoustic neuroma patients.

Methods: The Facial Clinimetric Evaluation (FaCE) Scale was emailed to all members of the British Acoustic Neuroma Association (BANA).

Results: Of the 880 BANA members contacted, 398 (45.

Long-term outcomes of facial nerve function in irradiated and nonirradiated nerve grafts.

Objectives: We reviewed the long-term results of facial nerve repair in a tertiary head and neck institution in the north of England.

Methods: We performed a case notes review of patients who had facial nerve repair over a 10-year period and had completed 24 months of follow-up.

Results: The study population comprised 18 female patients and 24 male patients, with an overall mean age of 53.

Antisecretory factor-inducing therapy improves patient-reported functional levels in Meniere's disease.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of specially processed cereal (SPC) as a suitable adjunctive treatment for Meniere's disease.

Methods: We performed a randomized double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover study in a tertiary referral center of patients who had a diagnosis of Meniere's disease based on the guidelines of the Committee on Hearing and Equilibrium of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS). The main outcome measure was the AAO-HNS Functional Level Scale (FLS).

Squamous cell carcinoma of the temporal bone: outcomes of radical surgery and postoperative radiotherapy.

Objectives/hypothesis: To analyze the treatment outcomes for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the temporal bone and to identify factors that may influence prognosis.

Study Design: Retrospective case series.

Methods: Case notes review of patients with histologically proven SCC of the temporal bone who had treatment with a curative intent at a tertiary referral center in the Northwest of England, United Kingdom.

Trans-mastoid facial nerve localisation for malignant neoplasms confined to the parotid gland.

Up to 32% of parotid neoplasms are malignant, and treatment for resectable parotid carcinomas remains primarily surgical. Resection is centred round the identification and preservation (where possible) of the main trunk of the facial nerve. Limited dissection of the temporal bone and identification of the facial nerve proximally in the mastoid portion can facilitate resection for all parotid carcinomas that occur in the preauricular portion of the gland.

Intratympanic membrane cholesteatoma: a rare incidental finding.

Intratympanic membrane cholesteatoma, occurring in the absence of trauma or surgery to the ear, is rare with less than 20 cases reported in the literature. We report a rare incidental finding of intratympanic membrane cholesteatoma in a 12-month-old girl and review the literature.