Management of vestibular schwannoma: focus on vertigo

Abstract

SUMMARY This article reviews published literature on vertigo and a ‘sense of imbalance’ affecting patients who are treated with radiosurgery (RS) for vestibular schwannoma. This is a relatively understudied complaint, along with tinnitus, in this patient population, despite its significant impact on quality of life. It is also a symptom that is most inconsistently impacted by either RS or surgery. This article aims to highlight the importance of this symptom in patients managed for vestibular schwannoma primarily with RS to encourage a more systematic study of vertigo as an outcome measure and to help elucidate its potential etiology.