Correlation between peri-operative complication in middle ear cholesteatoma surgery using STAMCO, ChOLE, and SAMEO-ATO classifications.

PURPOSE: To compare the relationship between the variable "complication" and the other variables of middle ear cholesteatoma classifications (STAMCO, ChOLE, and SAMEO-ATO). METHODS: Retrospective study of 110 patients that underwent 132 middle ear surgeries between the 1 January 2012 and the 31 December 2019 for chronic otitis with cholesteatoma classified according to STAMCO, ChOLE, and SAMEO-ATO classifications in a tertiary health care centre. RESULTS: Older age, male gender, STAMCO-T, and SAMEO-ATO [O1, T, O2, (s -)] and mastoid involvement (STAMCO-M and ChOLE-Ch) were associated with an increased risk of complication report. CONCLUSIONS: In our series, statistical analysis pointed out a relationship between surgical complications and age, gender, site, mastoidectomy type, and ossicular chain status at surgery. The choice of variables to be recorded for cholesteatoma staging should be carefully balanced, considering that "complication" variable could be a repetitive item.

Surgical Strategy and Facial Nerve Outcomes in Petrous Bone Cholesteatoma.

OBJECTIVE: To review the classification and management of petrous bone cholesteatomas (PBCs) at our center and the outcomes of facial nerve (FN) management in these lesions. METHODS: This was a retrospective study. The setting was a quaternary referral center for skull base pathology in Italy. A total of 200 patients with 201 PBCs were included in the study. All patients diagnosed radiologically with PBCs were classified according to the Sanna classification. All patients were surgically treated and followed up with radiology. The main outcome measures - classification of PBCs, the surgical approach used, disease control, and FN outcomes - were analyzed. RESULTS: Supralabyrinthine PBCs were the most common type with 92 cases (45.8%) followed by the massive PBCs with 72 cases (35.8%). Preservation of preoperative FN function was highest in the infralabyrinthine (72.2%) and infralabyrinthine-apical (73.3%) types. The transotic approach was used in 66 cases (32.8%) in this series. The modified transcochlear approach type A was applied in 55 cases (27.3%). Active management of the nerve (rerouting, anastomosis, or grafting) was required in 53 cases (26.4%). Postoperatively, of the 116 cases with FN House-Brackmann grade I and II, 107 cases (92.2%) retained the same grade or improved. Recurrence was seen in 7 cases (3.5%). The mean duration of follow-up was 6.3 years. CONCLUSIONS: Radical disease clearance must take precedence over hearing and FN preservation in PBCs. Active FN management, including rerouting, end-to-end anastomosis, and cable nerve grafting, routinely come to play in the surgical management of PBCs, and the postoperative FN results after such interventions can be satisfactory in most cases.

Cochlear implantation in irradiated tympanojugular paraganglioma.

OBJECTIVE: Indications for cochlear implantation have extended progressively over the years both from an audiological and clinical point of view, including the introduction of cochlear implants (CI) for hearing rehabilitation following skull base surgeries and neurotological procedures. In the past, cochlear implantation has been used for hearing rehabilitation in radiation-induced sensorineural hearing loss in nasopharyngeal and tonsillar carcinoma with successful outcomes. Here we describe a similar outcome following total deafness after tympanojugular paraganglioma irradiation, which is also the first such report in literature. DESIGN: The irradiated ear of this patient was implanted with a CI through standard posterior tympanotomy. STUDY SAMPLE: A 26 year old male with multiple paragangliomas with bilateral deafness, secondary to surgery on one ear and radiotherapy for the opposite ear. RESULTS: After a follow-up of 48 months, no local complications have occurred and the hearing results have remained stable with 100% sentence recognition. CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral and multiple paragangliomas are rare tumors. Despite the modality of treatment, the hearing is almost always compromised. In these patients, cochlear implantation offers a new perspective for hearing restoration. This report demonstrates that cochlear implantation can be effectively performed after tympanojugular paraganglioma irradiation with long-lasting, satisfactory results, even in the presence of residual tumor.

Giant cell tumors of the skull base: case series and current concepts.

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical features, tumor characteristics and outcomes of giant cell tumors (GCTs) in the skull base based on long-term follow-up. We also report the largest series of GCTs in the temporal bone and the lateral skull base. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted of all GCTs managed at the Gruppo Otologico, a quaternary referral skull base institute, in Italy from 1993 to 2013. The clinical features, investigations, surgical management and follow-up were recorded. The surgical approaches used were infratemporal fossa approach (ITFA) type B and D and middle cranial fossa (MCF) approaches. RESULTS AND OBSERVATIONS: A total of 7 patients with GCTs of the skull base were treated at our institution. The principal complaints were hearing loss reported in 6 (85.71%) patients, tinnitus in 5 (71.43%) and swelling in 3 (42.9%). Pure-tone audiometry showed conductive hearing loss in 5 (71.43%) patients. High-resolution CT scan and MRI with gadolinium enhancement were done in all patients. Radiology showed involvement of the ITF and middle ear in 6 (85.71%) patients each, temporomandibular joint in 4 (57.14%) patients, invasions of the squamous part of the temporal bone, mastoid, MCF and greater wing of sphenoid in 3 (42.9%) patients each and the petrous bone in 2 (28.6%) patients. ITFA type B was applied as an approach for tumor removal in 5 (71.43%) patients, including a case where an additional MCF approach was employed, and ITFA type D and the transmastoid approach were applied in 1 (14.3%) patient each. Total tumor removal and successful cure was achieved in 6 (85.71%) patients. Subtotal removal leading to recurrence and eventual mortality was the result in 1 (14.3%) patient. CONCLUSIONS: A thorough knowledge of the anatomy of the skull base and the various skull base approaches is necessary to tackle GCTs. ITFA type B and D combined with MCF approaches provide good exposure of the tumor with minimal postoperative sequelae and good locoregional control. Recurrence due to either subtotal removal or suboptimal treatment may have disastrous consequences for the patient.

Implantable hearing devices in clinical practice. Systematic review and consensus statements.

Objective: Implantable hearing devices represent a modern and innovative solution for hearing restoration. Over the years, these high-tech devices have increasingly evolved but their use in clinical practice is not universally agreed in the scientific literature. Congresses, meetings, conferences, and consensus statements to achieve international agreement have been made. This work follows this line and aims to answer unsolved questions regarding examinations, selection criteria and surgery for implantable hearing devices. Materials and methods: A Consensus Working Group was established by the Italian Society of Otorhinolaryngology. A method group performed a systematic review for each single question to identify the current best evidence on the topic and to guide a multidisciplinary panel in developing the statements. Results: Twenty-nine consensus statements were approved by the Italian Society of Otorhinolaryngology. These were associated with 4 key area subtopics regarding pre-operative tests, otological, audiological and surgical indications. Conclusions: This consensus can be considered a further step forward to establish realistic guidelines on the debated topic of implantable hearing devices.

Salvage surgery of vestibular schwannoma after failed radiotherapy: the Gruppo Otologico experience and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVES: The use of radiation therapy has largely widespread and becomes in many centers the preference modality of treatment for symptomatic patients who are old, medically unfit for surgical therapy, those who refuse surgery and in some recurrent or residual growing tumors. The risk of radiotherapy failure in the treatment of vestibular schwannoma might be underestimated in the literature. The purpose of this study is to show the Gruppo Otologico experience with salvage surgery to better understand the surgical outcomes and difficulties in treating vestibular schwannoma after failed radiotherapy. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review of patients who required salvage surgery of vestibular schwannoma after failed radiotherapy. SETTINGS: Quaternary referral otology and skull base center. RESULTS: Between 1987 and 2010, 2500 cases of VS underwent surgical treatment at the Gruppo Otologico. Nineteen patients had received stereotactic radiation therapy before the surgical treatment. The interval time between radiotherapy and surgical salvage ranged from 1 to 10 years. In all the cases decision of surgery was taken following an increase in tumor size with or without new onset of symptoms. Complete tumor removal was achieved in 86.6% of the cases through a transotic, transcochlear or enlarged translabyrinthine approach with trans-apical extension. Difficult dissection of the tumor was encountered in 93.3% the cases. The facial nerve was anatomically preserved in 93.3% but its function was worsened in 73.3% of patients after at least 6 months of follow up. Malignant transformation of the vestibular schwannoma was encountered in one patient. CONCLUSION: Complete surgical resection of VS is more difficult after radiotherapy with relatively poor facial nerve outcomes and nearly impossible hearing preservation. Patients who receive radiation therapy for the treatment of vestibular schwannoma should be made aware of its potential complications and risk of failure, especially in young patients and NF2 cases.

Analysis of hearing preservation and facial nerve function for patients undergoing vestibular schwannoma surgery: the middle cranial fossa approach versus the retrosigmoid approach--personal experience and literature review.

OBJECTIVE: To compare hearing preservation and facial nerve function outcomes in patients undergoing vestibular schwannoma surgery performed using either the middle cranial fossa approach (MCFA) or the retrosigmoid approach (RSA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A review of the medical records of patients diagnosed with vestibular schwannoma who underwent surgical tumor removal in a single reference center via the MCFA or the RSA between January 1988 and December 2008 was conducted. RESULTS: During this period, 90 patients underwent surgery via the MCFA while 86 patients received surgical treatment via the RSA. Of the patients subjected to the MCFA, 80.7% were characterized by a House-Brackmann (HB) grade I or II outcome, whereas 96.5% of patients undergoing the RSA were characterized by a HB grade I or II outcome (p = 0.001). This difference appeared only for extrameatal tumors when we compared size-matched tumors (58.3% MCFA vs. 98% RSA; p = 0.0006). There was no statistically significant difference in the hearing outcomes upon consideration of hearing preservation as characterized by the modified Sanna classification system involving classes A and B (18.9% MCFA vs. 10.6% RSA; p = 0.122). CONCLUSION: No statistically significant difference in hearing preservation was identified when comparing tumors operated upon via the MCFA versus the RSA. However, our results indicate that a higher risk of facial nerve function impairment exists if the surgery is performed via the MCFA under circumstances where the tumor extends to the cerebellopontine angle.

Wait and Scan Management of Intra-canalicular Vestibular Schwannomas: Analysis of Growth and Hearing Outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To report on the results of intracanalicular vestibular schwannomas (ICVS) that were managed by wait and scan and to analyze the possible predictors of tumor growth and hearing deterioration throughout the observation period. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective case series. SETTING: Quaternary referral center for skull base pathologies. PATIENTS: Patients with sporadic ICVS managed by wait and scan. INTERVENTION: Serial resonance imaging (MRI) with size measurement and serial audiological evaluation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Tumor growth defined as 2 mm increase of maximal tumor diameter, further treatment, and hearing preservation either maintain initial modified Sanna hearing class, or maintain initial serviceable hearing (class A/B). RESULTS: 339 patients were enrolled. The mean follow-up was 36.5±31.7 months with a median of 24 months. Tumor growth occurred in 141 patients (40.6%) either as slow growth (SG) in 26.3% of cases or fast growth (FG) in 15.3% of cases. Intervention was performed in only 64 cases (18.8%). Out of 271 patients who underwent hearing analysis, 86 patients (33.5%) showed hearing deterioration to a lower hearing class of the modified Sanna classification. Tumor growth and older age were predictors of hearing deterioration. Of the 125 cases with initial serviceable hearing (Class A/B), 91 cases (72.8%) maintained serviceable hearing at last follow-up. Tumor growth and a worse initial pure tone average (PTA) were predictors of hearing deterioration. CONCLUSIONS: Wait and scan management of ICVS is a viable option and only 18.8% of patients needed further treatment. Hearing tends to deteriorate over time.

Comparison of Lower Cranial Nerve Function Between Tympanojugular Paraganglioma Class C1/C2 With and Without Intracranial Extension: A Four-Decade Experience.

OBJECTIVE: To compare preoperative and postoperative lower cranial nerve (LCN) function between Class C1 and C2 tympanojugular paraganglioma (TJP) with/without intracranial intradural (Di)/extradural (De) extensions, according to the experience of a single surgeon over four decades. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review. SETTING: Quaternary referral center for otology and skull base surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A chart review was conducted of all the patients operated for C1/C2 TJPs from September 1983 to December 2018. The tumors were classified as: Limited-Group (C1/C2 without Di/De extensions) and Extended-Group (C1/C2 with Di/De extensions). RESULTS: Of 159 patients, 107 (67.3%) were women; the mean age at surgery was 46.5 years. The Limited-Group (56.6%) comprised C1 (41.1%) and C2 (58.9%) tumors; the Extended-Group (43.4%) comprised C1+Di/De (14.5%) and C2+Di/De (85.5%) tumors. The prevalence of preoperative LCN palsy was 11.9 times higher in Extended than Limited tumors: 61.9% versus 4.9% (p < 0.05). The risk for postoperative LCN palsy was 4.7 times greater in Extended than Limited tumors: 29.2% versus 12.9%, p = 0.01. CONCLUSION: Especially in younger patients, complete removal of Limited C1/C2 tumors, before they extend intracranially, reduces the risk of dysfunctionality of LCNs and the burden of residual tumor. The incidence of new tumors increased over four decades. However, new-postoperative LCN palsy did not occur in any Limited C1/C2 tumors operated after the year 2000, and declined to less than 10% of Extended C1/C2 tumors.

Petrous bone cholesteatoma: classification, management and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the classification of petrous bone cholesteatoma (PBC) and add a subclassification; to review the existing literature and to propose the ideal surgical management of PBC based upon the experience of the largest series published in the literature until now. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. SETTING: Quaternary referral neuro-otologic private practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data of 129 patients who underwent surgery for PBC between 1979 and 2008 were analyzed with respect to the classification, type of the approach used, facial nerve lesion and its management, recurrences and outcome. RESULTS: Out of the 129 PBC cases 64 were supralabyrinthine, 9 infralabyrinthine, 7 infralabyrinthine-apical, 48 massive and 1 apical. The facial nerve was involved in 95% of the cases. Hearing could not be preserved in 82% of the cases due to the extent of the lesions and the surgical approaches used. The internal carotid artery, jugular bulb and the lower cranial nerves were infrequently involved, but demanded careful identification and meticulous care to avoid complications. Obliteration of the cavities provided a safe solution for protection of the exposed dura and the vital neurovascular structures. Recurrences were observed in 5 cases. CONCLUSION: The classification of PBC is fundamental to choose the appropriate surgical approach; the facial nerve is involved in almost all the cases, radical removal takes priority over hearing preservation and cavity obliteration is important to protect the vital neurovascular structures which may be exposed.

Relevance of Modified Bondy Mastoidectomy in Pediatric Cholesteatoma.

Modified Bondy mastoidectomy is a type of canal wall down mastoidectomy well described in literature for adult patients. We present our experience with the use of modified Bondy mastoidectomy in pediatric population. Using retrospective chart review, pediatric patients, who underwent modified Bondy procedure for attic cholesteatoma between 1983 and 2015 at our quaternary referral center for otology and lateral skull base surgery, were analyzed after obtaining permission from institutional review board. The demographic data, air-bone gap before and after surgery (at a follow up of 1 month, 6 months, 2 year and 5 years), intraoperative findings and postoperative outcomes were recorded. A total of 36 (5.8%) pediatric cholesteatoma patients underwent Modified Bondy procedure. Out of these, 5-year follow up was available for 31 patients and they were included in audiological analysis. Air-bone gap was maintained at preoperative levels or improve in all the patients during follow up and there were no incidences of sensorineural hearing loss. Two patients (5.5%) were found to harbor residual cholesteatoma and two patients (6.4%) of the 31 patients who had follow up of 5 years, developed recurrent disease during follow up. Modified Bondy procedure, when done in appropriately selected patients, is a reliable, effective and reasonably safe technique for pediatric cholesteatoma.

Simultaneous Cochlear Implantation After Translabyrinthine Vestibular Schwannoma Resection: A Report of 41 Cases.

OBJECTIVE: To study the auditory outcome of simultaneous translabyrinthine vestibular schwannoma (VS) resection and cochlear implantation (CI) after successful cochlear nerve preservation. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective case series and patient questionnaire. SETTING: Quaternary referral center for skull base pathologies. PATIENTS: Patients with small (<2 cm) sporadic or neurofibromatosis 2 related tumors were included in this study. INTERVENTION: Vestibular schwannoma resection + simultaneous cochlear implantation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Audiological performance postimplantation and perceived patients' benefits. RESULTS: Forty-one patients were included. Thirty-three were sporadic VS and eight were neurofibromatosis 2. Auditory perception postimplantation was achieved in 33 patients (80.5%). At the last follow-up, 20 patients (48.8%) were users and 21 (51.2%) were nonusers. In the users' group, and after 1 year of implant activation, vowel identification was 75.3%, disyllabic word recognition 54%, sentence recognition 60.7%, and common phrase comprehension 61%, whereas in the nonusers' group and after 1 year of implant activation, vowel identification was 22.9%, disyllabic word recognition 14.8%, sentence recognition 15.3%, and common phrase comprehension 14%. Sixteen users were classified into 10 high performers, three intermediate performers, and three poor performers. In the user' group, the mean postimplantation pure tone average was 63.4 dB and the mean speech discrimination score was 63.7%. CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous CI and VS resection is a viable option with many patients achieving auditory perception and nearly half the patients are CI users at long follow-up.

Our Experience on Temporal Bone Fractures: Retrospective Analysis of 141 Cases.

Temporal bone fractures are a common lesion of the base of the skull. The diagnosis and management of temporal bone fractures require a multidisciplinary approach. Variable clinical presentations may arise from such fractures, ranging from an asymptomatic course to very serious consequences. The aim of this study was to report our experience with a series of patients with temporal bone fractures and to propose a diagnostic/therapeutic algorithm. This study enrolled 141 patients, 96 (68.1%) males and 45 (31.9%) females, ranging in age from 20 to 60 (average age: 39 ± 4.1 years), with temporal bone fractures who were referred to Cardarelli Hospital between 2006 and 2018. The present paper presents a classification of temporal bone fractures and typical clinical sequelae and provides an illustration of their prognosis and treatment.

Management of complex cases of petrous bone cholesteatoma.

OBJECTIVES: In a retrospective analysis of a quaternary referral neuro-otologic private practice, we identify complex cases of petrous bone cholesteatoma (i.e., cases with encasement of vital structures such as the internal carotid artery, jugular bulb, and sigmoid sinus, with further extension to the clivus, sphenoid sinus, or rhinopharynx), review surgical approaches and techniques of management of vital structures, and propose the ideal surgical management. METHODS: We performed a retrospective case study of 130 cases of petrous bone cholesteatoma submitted to surgery between 1979 and 2009 to identify the complex cases and their classification, approach used, outcomes, and recurrences. RESULTS: Of 130 cases. 13 were complex. Facial palsy was the presenting feature in 11 cases, 7 of which presented with grade VI palsy. A long duration of facial palsy (more than 3 years) was seen in 5 cases. Clival involvement was seen in 6 cases; 1 case extended to the sphenoid sinus, and 1 to the rhinopharynx. The internal carotid artery was encased in 11 cases in the vertical and the horizontal parts. The jugular bulb was involved in 7 cases. Modified transcochlear approaches or infratemporal fossa approaches were used in all cases. There were no recurrences. CONCLUSIONS: Classification is fundamental to choosing the right surgical approach. Transotic and modified transcochlear approaches hold the key to treating complex cases. Infratemporal fossa approach type B has to be used for extension into the clivus, sphenoid sinus, or rhinopharynx. Internal carotid artery, jugular bulb, and sigmoid sinus involvement should be identified before operation.

Facial Nerve Outcomes Following Total Excision of Vestibular Schwannoma by the Enlarged Translabyrinthine Approach.

OBJECTIVE: To study the early and late facial nerve (FN) outcomes in different tumor classes in addition to determining the predictive factors for the same. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective clinical study. SETTING: A quaternary referral otology and skull base center. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of 1983 cases of vestibular schwannomas (VSs) with preoperative normal FN function, undergoing total excision with anatomical preservation of the nerve by enlarged translabyrinthine approach (ETLA) were included. FN status was recorded postoperatively at day 1, at discharge, and at 1-year follow-up and were analyzed in different tumor sizes. RESULTS: At 1 year, 988 patients with House-Brackmann (H-B) grade I and II FN at day 1 after surgery, 958 (96.9%) maintained their status up-to 1 year. Of the 216 patients with H-B grade III at day 1 after surgery, 113 (52.3%) improved to H-B grade I and II. Similarly, of the 779 patients with H-B grade IV and VI FN function at day 1 after surgery, improvement to H-B III and H-B I and II were noted in 442 (56.7%) and 80 (10.3%) of patients, respectively. Intrameatal and extrameatal tumors upto 2 cm showed better recovery from H-B grade III to H-B I and II and from H-B grade IV and VI to H-B I and III when compared with extrameatal tumors >2 cm (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Tumors of smaller sizes have good immediate postoperative FN results and recover well at the end of 1 year while more than 3 cm have poor outcomes and recover poorly at the end of 1 year. When the VSs reaches more than 1 cm, the HB I and II outcomes drop significantly.

Intraoperative cochlear nerve monitoring in vestibular schwannoma surgery--does it really affect hearing outcome?

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the usefulness of intraoperative cochlear nerve monitoring (ICNM) in the preservation of normal and social hearing in vestibular schwannoma (VS) removal. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted. Of 1315 patients operated for VS between June 1988 and December 2005, 150 patients were subjected to hearing preservation surgery. Among these, 99 patients with preoperative normal and social hearing (class A and B in the modified Sanna classification) and with a small tumor <1.5 cm in size were included in the analysis. The difference in hearing preservation rates between patients operated with and without ICNM was statistically examined using Fisher's exact test. An initial analysis was conducted for the total group. Patients were then divided into two subgroups according to the surgical approach (middle cranial fossa and retrosigmoid-retrolabyrinthine). The effectiveness of ICNM in each subgroup was analyzed. RESULTS: The hearing preservation rate was 26.7% in cases operated with ICNM and 20.8% in cases without ICNM. The difference did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.79). In subgroup analyses, the ICNM did not prove to contribute to the significantly higher hearing preservation rate. CONCLUSIONS: ICNM did not increase the ratio of patients with postoperative normal and social hearing in VS surgery.

CNAP To Predict Functional Cochlear Nerve Preservation in NF-2: Cochlear Implant or Auditory Brainstem Implant.

The ideal management of bilateral vestibular schwannomas (VSs) involves complete tumor resection with preservation of hearing in at least one ear. While auditory brainstem implants (ABIs) have represented a significant advance in the management of neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF-2) patients, hearing rehabilitation is far from ideal. More recently, cochlear implantation has been used in selected cases of NF-2, following tumor removal, where the patient is left with bilateral profound hearing loss but with anatomical continuity of the cochlear nerve. In selected cases, cochlear implant (CI) has given superior results to ABI. The Gruppo Otologico experience in managing NF-2 patients consists of 29 patients treated between December 1996 and December 2007 out of a total of 1723 VSs. Thirty-nine tumors have been removed, with 10 patients having had bilateral tumor removed. Ten ABIs have been implanted and 5 CIs placed. We present a case that illustrates some of the difficulties encountered in the management of NF-2 VS and provides a basis for discussion of a technique to assist intraoperative decision-making to achieve optimal hearing rehabilitation. In the setting of a negative fast auditory brainstem response (ABR), but preserved cochlear nerve action potential (CNAP), the option of a CI can be considered. However, where the fast ABR and the morphology and amplitude of the CNAP are significantly degraded at the brainstem, the placement of an ABI should be strongly considered at the time of tumor removal. This technique must be further evaluated, but it represents an adjunct in this difficult area for the neurotologist. To this end we propose that a multicenter trial be undertaken to further elucidate the role of intraoperative monitoring to determine the functional preservation of the cochlear nerve.

Temporal Bone Meningo-Encephalic-Herniation: Etiological Categorization and Surgical Strategy.

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical presentation, intraoperative findings and surgical management in meningo-encephalic-herniation (MEH) based on the etiology. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective clinical study and is a follow-up on the previously published report in 2009. SETTING: A quaternary referral otology and skull base center PATIENTS AND METHODS:: The inclusion criteria were intraoperatively verified MEH in patients with a minimum follow-up of 12 months, which yielded 262 operated ears. The data were extracted regarding demographics, laterality, clinical presentation, past surgeries, contralateral-ear condition, intraoperative findings, complications, recurrences, revision-surgeries, audiometric-data, and follow-up. RESULTS: The mean age at surgery was 49.7 years with the involvement of right-ear in 53.8% of patients. Lesions were categorized based on the etiology as chronic-otitis-media with/without cholesteatoma-MEH (COM/CHOL-MEH)-47.7%, iatrogenic-MEHs -20.9%; traumatic-MEHs -8% and spontaneous-MEHs -23.3%. At presentation, hearing loss (100 and 98.2%) and otorrhea (65.6 and 49.1%) were predominant in COM/CHOL-MEHs and iatrogenic-MEHs, respectively. On the other hand, meningitis (23.9 and 14.3%) and cerebrospinal fluid-leak (52.4 and 42.8%) were more pronounced in spontaneous and traumatic MEHs, respectively. Surgical approaches included 1) transmastoid, 2) middle-cranial-fossa-approach, 3) combined, and 4) middle-ear-obliteration (MEO) techniques. A total of 52.8% of COM/CHOL-MEHs and 49.1% of iatrogenic-MEHs underwent MEO. Middle-cranial-fossa approach was predominantly used in spontaneous-MEHs (52.5%) and traumatic-MEHs (38.1%). The defect was mostly single (75.2%). Smaller, multiple, bilateral lesions were more common in spontaneous-MEHs with tegmen-tympani involvement (57.4%). CONCLUSION: Incorporating etiology into MEHs is a key-step that can be used as a guidance in choosing the right surgery. MEO is a part of armamentarium, and should be used whenever needed, if the objective is performing a definitive surgery.

Decision Making in the Wait-and-Scan Approach for Vestibular Schwannomas: Is There a Price to Pay in Terms of Hearing, Facial Nerve, and Overall Outcomes?

BACKGROUND: The wait-and-scan modality has emerged as an important strategy in the management of vestibular schwannoma (VS) as it has been demonstrated that many tumors grow slowly or do not show any growth over long periods. OBJECTIVE: To analyze long-term outcomes of wait-and-scan in the treatment of patients with VS, discuss the factors contributing to the decision making, determine the inherent risks of the policy, and compare our results with literature. METHODS: In total, 576 patients with sporadic unilateral VS who were managed with wait-and-scan were reviewed retrospectively. Of these, a subset of 154 patients with 5-yr follow-up was separately analyzed. The tumor characteristics including patterns of growth, rate of growth, hearing outcomes, and likely factors affecting the above parameters were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean period of follow-up was 36.9 ± 30.2 mo. The mean age was 59.2 ± 11.6 yr. Thirteen different patterns of tumor growth were observed. Eighty-four (54.5%) of 154 tumors with 5-yr follow-up showed no growth throughout 5 yr. Fifty-six (36.4%) tumors showed mixed growth rates. Only 57 (37%) patients had serviceable hearing at the start of follow-up, but 32 (56.1%) maintained it at the end of follow-up. One hundred fifty (26%) of the 576 patients who failed wait-and-scan had to be taken up for surgery. CONCLUSION: While there may be no price to pay in wait-and-scan as far as hearing is concerned, this may not be the case for facial nerve outcomes, wherein the results may be better if the patients are taken earlier for surgery.

Surgical technique and results of cable graft interpositioning of the facial nerve in lateral skull base surgeries: experience with 213 consecutive cases.

OBJECTIVE The aim in this study was to review the technique and outcomes of cable graft interpositioning of the facial nerve (FN) in lateral skull base surgeries. METHODS The authors retrospectively evaluated data from patients who had undergone cable graft interpositioning after nerve sacrifice during skull base tumor removal between June 1987 and May 2015. All patients had undergone lateral skull base approaches to remove tumors at a quaternary referral center in Italy. Facial nerve function was evaluated before and after surgery using the House-Brackmann (HB) grading system. RESULTS Two hundred thirteen patients were eligible for study. The mean follow-up was 44.3 months. The most common pathology was vestibular schwannoma (83 cases [39%]), followed by FN tumor (67 cases [31%]). Facial nerve tumors had the highest incidence of nerve interruption (67 [66%] of 102 cases). Preoperative FN function was normal (HB Grade I) in 105 patients (49.3%) and mild (HB Grade II) in 19 (8.9%). At the last postoperative follow-up, 108 (50.7%) of the 213 patients had recovered to Grade III nerve function. Preoperative HB grading of the FN was found to have a significant effect on outcome (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS Cable graft interpositioning is a convenient and well-accepted procedure for immediate restoration of the FN. The study results, over a large number of patients, showed that the stitch-less fibrin glue-aided coaptation technique yields good results. The best possible postoperative result achieved was an HB Grade III. The chances of a good postoperative result increase when FN function is normal preoperatively. Slow-growing tumors of the cerebellopontine angle had a favorable outcome after grafting.