Management of radiation/radiosurgical complications and failures.

To describe the incidence and the course of complications after the radiosurgical treatment of vestibular schwannomas, the authors reviewed their own experience and reviewed the literature. Failure is described in less than 3% of cases, and this had to be distinguished from transient enlargement of tumor volume. In case of failure, microsurgical resection or another radiosurgical procedure should be discussed. The risk of radio-induced tumorigenesis is not clearly established with single-dose radiosurgical technique. Incidence and management of potential complications should be explained at the time of decision making in the management of vestibular schwannomas.