Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40234793›Full record

SynthesisBMC cancer2025

Stereotactic radiosurgery for vestibular schwannomas in neurofibromatosis type 2: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Bardia Hajikarimloo, Salem M Tos, Mohammadamin Sabbagh Alvani, Alireza Kooshki, Ibrahim Mohammadzadeh, Mohammad Amin Habibi

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Management strategies for vestibular schwannomas in patients with NF2-related schwannomatosis: a systematic review.European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery · 2026
    Review
  3. Review
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Bardia HajikarimlooDepartment of Neurological Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA. bardii47@yahoo.com.
Salem M TosDepartment of Neurological Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
Mohammadamin Sabbagh AlvaniDepartment of Neurosurgery, Shohada Tajrish Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Alireza KooshkiStudent Research Committee, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.
Ibrahim MohammadzadehSkull Base Research Center, Loghman-Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mohammad Amin HabibiDepartment of Neurosurgery, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundManagement of neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2)- associated vestibular schwannomas (VSs) is challenging due to their multiplicity, early onset, proximity to the brainstem, unpredictable growth, and aggressive behavior. The optimal therapeutic intervention remains controversial in the literature, and the advantages and disadvantages of each treatment option should be evaluated for each patient. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) has exhibited favorable results in the management of NF2-associated VSs. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the role of SRS in NF2-associated VSs.

methodsOn August 22, 2024, four electronic databases, comprising PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science, were comprehensively searched. Studies that assessed SRS's radiological and clinical outcomes in NF2-associated VSs were enrolled.

resultsNineteen studies were included with 960 individuals and 1310 NF2-associated VSs. The analysis showed a pooled local control (LC) rate of 83% (95%CI:74-90%). Older age (P = 0.001), prior resection (P = 0.003), and lower tumor volume (P = 0.019) were associated with higher LC rates. The results demonstrated a pooled serviceable hearing preservation (SHP) rate of 42% (95%CI:34-51%), trigeminal nerve worsening rate of 2% (95%CI:1-4%), and a facial nerve worsening rate of 5% (95%CI:2-9%). None of the patients experienced radionecrosis (RN) following SRS. Sensitivity analyses revealed a moderate to high robustness of the results. No publication bias was identified.

conclusionSRS is an effective therapeutic modality for managing VSs, especially small-to medium-sized lesions. We showed that SRS is associated with favorable LC and SHP rates and considerably low trigeminal or facial nerve worsening and RN rates.

Indexed as

Neurofibromatosis 2Neuroma, AcousticRadiosurgeryHumansTreatment OutcomeAcoustic neuromaNeurofibromatosis type 2Stereotactic radiosurgeryVestibular Schwannoma

Identifiers

PMID40234793
PMCPMC11998438

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.