There are quite a few in the forum that had GK. If my memory serves me well, GM (Gary) had GK quite a few years ago, you may want to look into his posts. Sue (from Vancouver) had GK in 2006. Several forumites went though treatment last year for relatively small ANs.
Based on my own reading from forumite stories, the results have generally been encouraging. Swelling hasn't seemed to be too much of an issue, but maybe I am wrong. (Steve mentioned JB who ir I remember well had CK). Nancy Drew had started a thread some time ago when she was researching her options about "negative GK experiences", you may want to search that too.
There are tons of links on the forum discussing the issue of long term data, this was a hot topic for the last two months or so. Kate B summarized the results of a study on hearing preservation some days ago:
http://anausa.org/forum/index.php?topic=9486.0As Steve mentioned, Pittsburgh appears to have the most long-spanning data. Here is the abstract from one of their papers.
Here is the abstract from the article published by Pittsburgh, which includes the longest spanning study from what I can tell:
Radiosurgery of vestibular schwannomas: summary of experience in 829 cases
L. DADE LUNSFORD, M.D., AJAY NIRANJAN, M.B.B.S, M.S., JOHN C. FLICKINGER, M.D.,
ANN MAITZ, M.SC., AND DOUGLAS KONDZIOLKA, M.D., F.R.C.S.
Departments of Neurological Surgery and Radiation Oncology, The University of Pittsburgh School of
Medicine; and The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Object. Management options for vestibular schwannomas (VSs) have greatly expanded since the introduction of stereotactic radiosurgery. Optimal outcomes reflect long-term tumor control, preservation of cranial nerve function, and retention of quality of life. The authors review their 15-year experience. Methods. Between 1987 and 2002, some 829 patients with VSs underwent gamma knife surgery (GKS). Dose selection,
imaging, and dose planning techniques evolved between 1987 and 1992 but thereafter remained stable for 10 years. The average tumor volume was 2.5 cm3. The median margin dose to the tumor was 13 Gy (range 10–20 Gy). No patient sustained significant perioperative morbidity. The average duration of hospital stay was less than 1 day.
Unchanged hearing preservation was possible in 50 to 77% of patients (up to 90% in those with intracanalicular tumors). Facial neuropathy risks were reduced to less than 1%. Trigeminal symptoms were detected in less than 3% of patients whose tumors reached the level of the trigeminal nerve. Tumor control rates at 10 years were 97% (no additional treatment needed). Conclusions. Superior imaging, multiple isocenter volumetric conformal dose planning, and optimal precision and dose delivery contributed to the long-term success of GKS, including in those patients in whom initial microsurgery had failed. Gamma knife surgery provides a low risk, minimally invasive treatment option for patients with newly diagnosed or residual VS. Cranial nerve preservation and quality of life maintenance are possible in long-term follow up.
Marianna
