Cognitive and psychosocial outcomes following stereotactic radiosurgery for acoustic neuroma

BACKGROUND: Acoustic Neuroma (AN) is a benign tumour of the eighth cranial nerve. Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) is a common treatment approach. Studies have explored the primary effects of SRS and documented equivalent efficacy for tumour control compared to neurosurgery.

OBJECTIVE: Examine the longer term cognitive and psychosocial outcomes of SRS in non-Neurofibromatosis Type II patients utilising both objective and subjective cognitive outcomes associated with quality of life and health related distress.

METHODS: Nineteen individuals treated via SRS were assessed using a battery of standardised psychometric tests as well as measures of quality of life and psychological distress.

RESULTS: Participants had largely preserved cognitive function except for processing speed, aspects of attention and visual memory relative to age norms. Self-reported quality of life was better than in other AN population studies. Level of psychological distress was equivalent to general population norms. More than half of participants reported subjective cognitive decline though this was not fully supported by objective testing. Subjective cognitive complaints may be associated with lower reported quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS: Results are largely consistent with previous findings on the effects of SRS in other clinical groups, which supports SRS as a targeted radiation treatment for AN.