Quality of life outcomes in acoustic neuroma: systematic review (2000–2021)

Abstract

Abstract Background The majority of acoustic neuroma (AN) outcome studies examine medical outcomes. An alternative is to examine how AN, its treatment, and complications impact patients’ quality of life (QOL). A systematic review for AN was conducted using MEDLINE, PUBMED, and EMBASE. Manuscripts were limited to human participants, written in English, and published from 2000 to 2021. Of 426 unique citations, only 48 examined QOL outcomes. Risk of bias was assessed using Downs and Black’s Quality Assessment Index. Results Sixteen studies (33.3%) compared AN patients to normative/control data, 15 (31.25%) compared QOL outcomes between treatment groups, 8 (16.7%) examined changes in QOL over time within a treatment modality, 7 (14.6%) examined QOL in relation to a specific sample characteristic, and 2 (4.2%) used non-standard methods to describe patients experiences. QOL was worse post-surgery and/or radiotherapy compared with healthy controls and active surveillance and tied to symptoms experienced. Study quality was reasonable despite expectable limitations due to the nature of the population. Conclusions AN treatments, particularly surgical, may result in pain and nerve damage. Whilst not common, these can significantly impact QOL domains, including social and emotional wellbeing and social participation. Surgical teams should prepare patients for this possibility and ensure adequate community follow-up with specialist physical therapies, audiology, ophthalmology, and psychology to mitigate these effects should they occur.