2025 Proffered Presentations
S177: EVALUATION OF THE SAFETY OF TUMOR REMOVAL WITH CAPSULAR SPARING IN SCHWANNOMAS
Kentaro Watanabe, PhD; The Jikei UNiversity School of Medicine
Capsule-sparing surgery has emerged as a promising approach for preserving neural function in schwannoma surgery. This retrospective study evaluated the efficacy of this technique in 83 schwannoma cases (65 auditory neuromas, 10 jugular foramen tumors, 5 trigeminal schwannomas, and 3 facial nerve schwannomas) treated between 2019 and 2024.
Results demonstrated excellent outcomes, with 99% facial nerve preservation and 68% hearing preservation in auditory neuromas. Other schwannomas also exhibited favorable neural function preservation, although sensory deficits were observed in some trigeminal schwannoma cases. While capsule identification was challenging in certain tumors, such as hypervascularized or recurrent ones, it significantly reduced the incidence of immediate postoperative facial paralysis and improved overall neural function outcomes.
These findings support the integration of capsule-sparing surgery into the standard of care for schwannoma treatment, emphasizing its potential to enhance patient outcomes and minimize functional deficits.