Türk Nöroşirürji Dergisi 2016 , Vol 26 , Num - Ek
Extraorbital Schwannomas of Oculomotor, Trochlear, and Abducens Nerves
Ahmet Murat KUTLAY, Cahit KURAL
Gülhane Askeri Tıp Akademisi, Nöroşirürji Anabilim Dalı, Ankara, Türkiye Schwannomas are slow-growing, bening tumors that arise from Schwann cells. Oculomotor, trochlear and abducens nerve schwannomas without neurofibromatosis are very rare but numbers are increasing obviously due to the wide-spread use of MRI. Patients with small and asymptomatic tumor may be followed with serial MRI scans without neurological intervention but in tumors with symptoms, surgery should be considered as the first treatment options. However, the chance for postoperative improvement of these nerves functions is quite low. Therefore, subtotal tumour removal preserving the tumor capsule with the nerve can be appropriate technique in selected patients. On the other side, stereotactic radiosurgery has shown high success rates in controlling schwannomas and should be taken into consideration as an alternative, minimally invasive technique, especially in older patients with small tumors and in patients with higher risk for general anaesthesia due to additional diseases. Anahtar Kelimeler : Schwannoma, Cranial nerve, Oculomotor nerve, Trochlear nerve, Abducens nerve, Stereotactic radiosurgery