Gamma knife surgery (GKS) for vestibular schwannomas (VS) has a long-term clinical and scientific track record. After a period of de-escalation of dose prescription, results show a high rate of tumor control with improvement of clinical outcome (less than 1% facial palsy, 50–70% hearing preservation). Régis et al. (J Neurosurg 2013;119 Suppl.:105-11) suggested recently that proactive GKS management in intracanalicular tumors is better than a « wait and see » strategy when hearing is still useful at the time of diagnosis.

Based on these previous findings, we prospectively analyzed 190 vestibular schwannomas (VS), treated with GKS as first intention over a period of 4 years (2010–2014). We concentrated on patient, tumor and dosimetric characteristics. Special attention was given on the dose to the cochlea and its impact in maintaining serviceable hearing.

The mean follow-up period was 1.3years (range 0.6–3.6). Preoperative serviceable hearing was present in 63.11% patients. The mean maximal diameter was 15.1mm (range 5–29.5). The size and volume of the tumor corresponded to Koos grade I, II, III and IV in 15.9%, 34.8%, 45.4% and 3.8% of the cases, respectively. The mean target volume was 1.24cm³ (0.017–7.8). The mean prescription isodose volume was 1.6 cc (0.032-8.5). The mean marginal dose was 12Gy (11-12). The mean maximal dose received by the cochlea in patients with GR class 1 and 2 was 4.1Gy (1.5–7.6). Our preliminary neuroradiological follow-up shows 97% tumor control, with 45% shrinkage. Patients presenting with GR class 1 and class 2 at baseline retained serviceable hearing in 85% of cases. Among the patients with a follow-up of at least one year, those with Koos I tumors had the highest probability to maintain identical level of hearing after GKS.

Our preliminary data suggest that Koos I patients should be treated early with GKS, before tumor growth and/or hearing deterioration, as they have the highest probability of hearing preservation.