Extended translabyrinthine approach in treatment of vestibular schwannomas

Results of removal of vestibular schwannomas using translabyrintine approach were presented. 12 unilateral neuromas were operated. Large neuromas with diameter above 2 cm constituted 75% of all cases. The total resection of tumors was achieved in 10 patients. In all cases anatomical integrity of facial nerve was conserved. In 7 patients facial nerve function was in stage I-III (House Brackmann classification). There were not life threatening complications. Authors underline, that the translabyrintine approach permits to obtain enough wide insight to ponto-cerebellar angle to remove safely, both little and large, vestibular schwannomas.