Radiation-induced cavernous malformation within a vestibular schwannoma: A case report
Cavernous malformations are a well-described complication of intracranial radiation; however, have only once previously been described within a vestibular schwannoma following radiotherapy. We report a case of a 78-year-old woman presenting with new hemifacial spasm 16-years following fractionated radiotherapy for a vestibular schwannoma, with imaging suggesting the formation of a cavernous malformation within the tumor. The patient underwent translabyrinthine resection, with final pathology confirming the diagnosis of a cavernous malformation within the vestibular schwannoma. This case highlights the need to maintain a broad differential in patients with new symptoms following radiotherapy for vestibular schwannomas, including hemifacial spasm. Cavernous malformations should be considered among potential radiation-related complications in patients with vestibular schwannoma. <b>Level of Evidence:</b> IV.
Authors
- Sabrina M. Heman-Ackah (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5368-0930)
- Douglas C. Bigelow
- Jason A. Brant (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3492-0679)
- Alexandra E. Quimby (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4864-8917)
- Alex Z. Graboyes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-9412-8893)
- John Y. K. Lee (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0293-7150)
- S Stone
Institutions
- Dalhousie University (CA)
- University of Wisconsin–Madison (US)
- University of Michigan (US)
- Michigan Medicine (US)
- William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital (US)
- Wisconsin Division of Public Health (US)
- University of Pennsylvania (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- SAGE Open Medical Case Reports
- Published
- 2025-10-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1177/2050313x251390626
- Primary Topic
- Meningioma and schwannoma management
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00