Anatomy and Function of the Nervus Intermedius in Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Vestibular Schwannoma

Park, Seong-Hyun

Review article

Journal of the Korean Society of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery 2014;10(1):1-4.
Published online June 30, 2014.

Anatomy and Function of the Nervus Intermedius in Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Vestibular Schwannoma

Seong-Hyun Park

Department of Neurosurgery, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Korea

Abstract

Complete resection of vestibular schwannomas often presents a major surgical challenge because of the relationship of the tumor to critical neurovascular structures. Stereotactic radiosurgery plays a important role in the management of vestibular schwannomas. Some patients undergoing stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for vestibular schwannoma experience various disturbances of non-motor components of the facial nerve as a result of the SRS. In this brief review, the author described the anatomy of the nervus intermedius, the non-motor component of the facial nerve, and evaluate its dysfunction following stereotactic radiosurgery for the treatment of vestibular schwannoma.

Key Words: Gamma Knife radiosurgery, Nervus intermedius, Stereotactic radiosurgery, Vestibular schwannoma.