Acoustic neuroma radiosurgery. Origins, contemporary use and future expectations.

Patients who have an acoustic neuroma (vestibular schwannoma) can be managed with observation, open surgical resection, stereotactic radiosurgery, or fractionated radiotherapy. Increasing numbers of patients are choosing radiosurgery over resection for their tumor. In this report we discuss the history of stereotactic radiosurgery, and the evolution in technique that has led to current results with this approach. We discuss the indications for and expectations with the different treatments. The literature on radiosurgery and radiotherapy is reviewed. It is expected that clinical and basic studies will further improve results.