Long-term outcomes of Gamma Knife surgery for vestibular schwannomas: tumor stability supports reduced surveillance after 10 years

The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) for sporadic vestibular schwannoma (VS), focusing on the durability of tumor control and the necessity of extended posttreatment imaging surveillance.

Clinicians co-managing vestibular schwannoma patients treated with Gamma Knife radiosurgery may reasonably discuss reduced MRI surveillance frequency with neurosurgery after 10 years of documented tumor stability, pending institutional protocol updates.

Evidence supporting reduced long-term surveillance after Gamma Knife radiosurgery could lower patient burden and healthcare costs while maintaining safety for a large population of vestibular schwannoma survivors.

1. 01Tumor stability is the dominant long-term outcome after Gamma Knife radiosurgery for sporadic vestibular schwannoma.
2. 02The study suggests surveillance imaging intervals can be safely extended beyond 10 years post-treatment.
3. 03Findings apply specifically to sporadic (non-genetic) vestibular schwannomas, not NF2-related tumors.
4. 04Reduced surveillance could meaningfully decrease patient anxiety and imaging costs.
5. 05Published in the Journal of Neurosurgery, lending the findings high peer-review credibility.

PMID

42102400

DOI

10.3171/2025.12.JNS252098.

Journal

Journal of Neurosurgery

Publication type

research_article

Evidence level

4

Population

Patients with sporadic vestibular schwannoma treated with Gamma Knife radiosurgery

Intervention

Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery