Correlation Between Size of Vestibular Schwannoma and Severity of Hydrocephalus

Abstract

Introduction: Vestibular schwannomas (VS) are benign tumors that can lead to severe complications such as hydrocephalus, particularly as tumor size increases. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between the size of vestibular schwannomas and the severity of hydrocephalus, using the Evans index as a measure of ventricular enlargement. Methods & Materials: This retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Bangladesh, reviewing patient records from the past ten years. Fifty patients with confirmed vestibular schwannoma and hydrocephalus, diagnosed through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), were included. Tumor size was measured in three dimensions, and the Evans index was used to assess hydrocephalus severity. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26 to evaluate the correlation between tumor size and hydrocephalus severity. Result: The study found a strong positive correlation between tumor size and the severity of hydrocephalus (r = 0.72, p < 0.001). Tumors measuring 0.5-1.5 cm had a mean Evans index of 0.32, while those greater than 4.5 cm had a mean Evans index of 0.45. No significant correlation was observed between age (r = 0.15, p = 0.31) or gender (r = -0.04, p = 0.78) and the Evans index, indicating that tumor size is the primary determinant of hydrocephalus severity in this population. Conclusion: The findings of this study underscore the critical role of tumor size in the development and severity of hydrocephalus in patients with vestibular schwannomas. These results suggest that treatment strategies should focus primarily on tumor characteristics to optimize patient outcomes.