Influence of nerve of origin and tumor size of vestibular schwannoma on dynamic posturography findings

Abstract

Conclusion. Condition 5-score (C5S) and vestibular ratio (VER) correlate, but condition-6-score (C6S) and mean overall balance score (MOBS) do not, with the size of an inferior vestibular nerve (IVN) vestibular schwannoma (VS). In IVN VS patients the visual system plays a major role in the maintenance of postural stability. Objectives. To test whether the size of a superior vestibular nerve (SVN) or IVN VS, as measured on MRI scans, correlates with computerized dynamic platform posturography (CDPP) findings and whether CDPP findings could preoperatively predict the nerve of origin of the VS. Patients and methods. This was a retrospective study. Seventy-five consecutive VS patients were evaluated. C5S, C6S, VER, and MOBS were evaluated. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients were calculated between the tumor's larger dimension and each of the four parameters for SVN and IVN VS. The nerve of VS origin was identified intraoperatively. To test for differences between CDPP findings of the SVN and IVN groups of VS patients, the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney sum rank test was applied. Results. Larger dimension of VS was correlated with C5S and VER in IVN VS patients (r = − 0.358, p=0.008 and r = − 0.356, p=0.008, respectively). Neither C6S nor MOBS showed any significant correlation with the tumor's larger dimension. None of the four scores showed any significant difference between the SVN and IVN groups of VS patients.

• Balance
• vestibular nerve
• magnetic resonance imaging
• schwannoma