Outcomes for Patients With Vestibular Schwannomas Treated With Gamma Knife Versus Linear Accelerator-Based Radiosurgery: A Retrospective Review

Prior studies have reported favorable local control for patients with vestibular schwannomas (VS) treated with Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) or linear accelerator (LINAC)-based radiosurgery; however, direct comparisons of quality-of-life outcomes with each approach are lacking....

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This retrospective review may inform relative outcomes between Gamma Knife and LINAC radiosurgery for vestibular schwannoma, but its retrospective, uncontrolled design means findings should be considered hypothesis-generating rather than practice-changing until confirmed by prospective or randomized data.

Choosing between Gamma Knife and LINAC radiosurgery is a common clinical decision for vestibular schwannoma management, and comparative outcome data—even retrospective—helps audiologists and referring clinicians set realistic expectations for hearing preservation and tumor control.

1. 01Retrospective study comparing Gamma Knife vs. linear accelerator (LINAC) radiosurgery for vestibular schwannoma.
2. 02Published in Advances in Radiation Oncology (2026); likely evaluates tumor control, hearing preservation, and adverse events.
3. 03Retrospective design limits causal inference; selection bias between treatment arms is a key confounder.
4. 04Findings are relevant to audiologists involved in pre- and post-radiosurgery counseling and monitoring.
5. 05Neither modality is universally superior in the current literature; this study adds to an ongoing evidence debate.

PMID

42927347

DOI

10.1016/j.adro.2026.102177.

Journal

Advances in Radiation Oncology

Publication type

research_article

Evidence level

4

Population

Patients with vestibular schwannomas treated with radiosurgery

Intervention

Gamma Knife radiosurgery

Comparator

Linear accelerator (LINAC)-based radiosurgery