Estrogenic/Progestin therapy and the development of Vestibular Schwannoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE

Compare the risk of developing Vestibular schwannoma in patients prescribed Hormone Therapy (HT).

METHODS

We performed a systematic review in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA), the search was conducted in English, and we included all the studies that met the following criteria: (a) Participants who presented with VS; (b) Patients prescribed Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT); (c) Prospective, retrospective or case-control study.

RESULTS

Of the 146 articles, four met the inclusion criteria and were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Two studies documented an increased relative risk of Vestibular schwannoma in patients that had ever used hormone replacement therapy, another study found an incidence rate 2.2 times higher than the expected incidence rate and the other study indicated a 10% increased odds of the Vestibular Schwannoma in patients who have ever used hormone replacement therapy.

CONCLUSION

The use of hormone replacement therapy was associated with an increased relative risk of Vestibular Schwannoma but also demonstrated a lack of a definitive association.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 1.