Risks associated with ventriculomegaly and symptomatic communicating hydrocephalus following stereotactic radiosurgery for vestibular schwannoma

Communicating hydrocephalus may occur following stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for vestibular schwannomas (VSs), yet identifying individual patient risk factors associated with this post-SRS complication remains a challenge. This study examined predictors of nonobstructive ventricular enlargement and symptomatic communicating hydrocephalus following primary SRS treatment for VS via a single-center institutional...

Surgeons and neurotologists managing vestibular schwannoma patients post-radiosurgery should be aware of the identified risk factors for ventriculomegaly and communicating hydrocephalus to guide follow-up imaging schedules, though specific risk factors and their magnitude require review of the full paper before changing surveillance protocols.

Communicating hydrocephalus is a serious but underappreciated late complication of radiosurgery for vestibular schwannoma, and characterising its risk factors could meaningfully improve post-treatment monitoring and patient counselling.

1. 01J Neurosurg study identifies patient-level risk factors for hydrocephalus after vestibular schwannoma radiosurgery.
2. 02Communicating hydrocephalus post-radiosurgery is a distinct complication separate from tumour control failure.
3. 03Ventriculomegaly (enlarged brain fluid spaces) may be asymptomatic or progress to symptomatic hydrocephalus.
4. 04Findings could inform tailored surveillance imaging intervals after stereotactic radiosurgery.
5. 05Results relevant to multidisciplinary skull-base teams including audiologists managing these patients.

PMID

42066355

DOI

10.3171/2025.12.JNS25176.

Journal

Journal of Neurosurgery

Publication type

research_article

Evidence level

4

Population

Patients who underwent stereotactic radiosurgery for vestibular schwannoma

Intervention

Stereotactic radiosurgery for vestibular schwannoma