Microanatomical variations in the cerebellopontine angle associated with vestibular schwannomas (acoustic neuromas)
Authors: Sampath Prakash , Rini David , Long Donlin M. 
Published: January 2008

Great advances in neuroimaging, intraoperative cranial nerve monitoring, and microsurgical technique have shifted the focus of acoustic neuroma surgery from prolonging life to preserving cranial nerve function in patients. An appreciation of the vascular and cranial nerve microanatomy and the intimate relationship between neurovascular structures and the tumor is essential to achieve optimum results. In this paper the authors analyze the microanatomical variations in location of the facial and cochlear nerves in the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) associated with acoustic neuromas and, additionally, describe the frequency of involvement of surrounding neural and vascular structures with acoustic tumors of varying size. The authors base their findings on their experience treating 1006 consecutive patients who underwent surgery via a retrosigmoid or translabyrinthine approach.

Between July 1969 and January 1998, the senior author (D.M.L.) performed surgery in 1022 patients for acoustic neuroma: 705 (69%) via the retrosigmoid (suboccipital); 301 (29%) via translabyrinthine; and 16 (2%) via middle fossa approach. Patients undergoing the middle fossa approach were excluded from the study. Patients were subdivided into three groups based on tumor size: Group 1 tumors (609 patients [61%]) were smaller than 2.5 cm; Group 2 tumors (244 patients [24%]) were between 2.5 and 4 cm; and Group 3 tumors (153 patients [15%]) were larger than 4 cm. Operative notes were analyzed for each patient. Relevant cranial nerve and vascular “involvement” as well as anatomical location with respect to the tumor in the CPA were noted. “Involvement” was defined as intimate contact between neurovascular structure and tumor (or capsule), where surgical dissection was required to free the structure. Seventh and eighth cranial nerve involvement was divided into anterior, posterior, and polar (around the upper or lower pole) locations. Anterior and posterior locations were further subdivided into upper, middle, or lower thirds of the tumor.

The most common location of the seventh cranial nerve (facial) was the anterior middle third of the tumor for Groups 1, 2, and 3, although a significant number were found on the anterior superior portion. The posterior location was exceedingly rare (< 1%). Interestingly, patients with smaller tumors (Group 1) had an incidence (3.4%) of the seventh cranial nerve passing through the tumor itself equal to that of patients with larger tumors. The most common location of the seventh cranial nerve complex was the anterior inferior portion of the tumor. Not surprisingly, larger tumors (Group 3) had a higher incidence of involvement of sixth cranial nerve (41%), fifth cranial nerve (100%), ninth-11th cranial nerve complex (99%), 12th cranial nerve (31%), as well as superior cerebellar artery (79%), anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) trunk (91.5%), AICA branches (100%), posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) trunk (59.5%), PICA branches (79%), and the vertebral artery (93.5%). A small number of patients in Group 3 also had AICA (3.3%), PICA (3.3%), or vertebral artery (1.3%) vessels within the tumor itself.

In this study, the authors show the great variation in anatomical location and involvement of neurovascular structures in the CPA. With this knowledge, they present certain technical lessons that may be useful in preserving function during surgery and, in doing so, hope to provide neurosurgeons and neurootologists with valuable information that may help to achieve optimum cranial nerve outcomes in patients.