Right medium-sized vestibular schwannoma with trigeminal neuralgia post-fractionated radiotherapy

Neurosurg Focus Video. 2021 Oct 1;5(2):V10. doi: 10.3171/2021.7.FOCVID21112. eCollection 2021 Oct.

Abstract

A patient with trigeminal neuralgia secondary to a vestibular schwannoma underwent fractionated radiotherapy without relief of her pain. She was then effectively treated with microsurgical resection of her tumor. Early identification of the lower cranial nerves and the origin of the facial and vestibulocochlear nerves is key to determining the operative corridors for vestibular schwannoma resection. To effectively treat trigeminal neuralgia, the trigeminal nerve root entry zone and motor branch are clearly identified and decompressed. Fractioned radiotherapy does not effectively treat trigeminal neuralgia secondary to vestibular schwannoma compression. The video can be found here: https://stream.cadmore.media/r10.3171/2021.7.FOCVID21112.

Keywords: radiotherapy; trigeminal neuralgia; vestibular schwannoma.