Other Schwannomas of the Cerebellopontine Angle
摘要
Schwannomas can develop in any cranial nerve of the cerebellopontine angle, primarily in sensory nerves, without a clear pattern in frequency. They can arise in the cisternal segment of the nerve and spread through the skull base foramina to multiple extracranial regions. In this chapter, the anatomy, clinical, diagnostic, and microneurosurgical treatment characteristics of cerebellopontine angle schwannomas are reviewed. However, diagnostic imaging lacks distinctive features for definitive diagnosis, making preoperative diagnosis unreliable. The most frequent and relevant non-vestibular schwannomas are those of the trigeminal nerve and the facial nerve, which are reviewed in a more extensive and in-depth manner. Treatment is typically microneurosurgical, making stereotactic radiosurgery or surveillance potentially hazardous. After removal, the prognosis is generally favorable, but complete excision may lead to functional or anatomical nerve loss. Subtotal excision and postoperative imaging surveillance are recommended to maintain nerve function.