Santacroce, AntonioTrandafirescu, Mioara-FlorentinaLevivier, MarcPeters, DavidFuerweger, ChristophToma-Dasu, IulianaGeorge, MercyDaniel, Roy ThomasMaire, RaphaelNakamura, MakotoFaouzi, MohamedSchiappacasse, LuisDasu, AlexandruTuleasca, Constantin2023-07-312023-07-312023-07-312023-07-0410.1007/s10143-023-02060-xhttps://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/199572WOS:001022954700002ObjectiveProton beam therapy is considered, by some authors, as having the advantage of delivering dose distributions more conformal to target compared with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Here, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of proton beam for VSs, evaluating tumor control and cranial nerve preservation rates, particularly with regard to facial and hearing preservation.MethodsWe reviewed, using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) articles published between 1968 and September 30, 2022. We retained 8 studies reporting 587 patients.ResultsOverall rate of tumor control (both stability and decrease in volume) was 95.4% (range 93.5-97.2%, p heterogeneity= 0.77, p<0.001). Overall rate of tumor progression was 4.6% (range 2.8-6.5%, p heterogeneity < 0.77, p<0.001). Overall rate of trigeminal nerve preservation (absence of numbness) was 95.6% (range 93.5-97.7%, I-2 = 11.44%, p heterogeneity= 0.34, p<0.001). Overall rate of facial nerve preservation was 93.7% (range 89.6-97.7%, I-2 = 76.27%, p heterogeneity<0.001, p<0.001). Overall rate of hearing preservation was 40.6% (range 29.4-51.8%, I-2 = 43.36%, p heterogeneity= 0.1, p<0.001).ConclusionProton beam therapy for VSs achieves high tumor control rates, as high as 95.4%. Facial rate preservation overall rates are 93%, which is lower compared to the most SRS series. Compared with most currently reported SRS techniques, proton beam radiation therapy for VSs does not offer an advantage for facial and hearing preservation compared to most of the currently reported SRS series.Clinical NeurologySurgeryNeurosciences & NeurologySurgeryproton therapyvestibular schwannomaradiosurgeryfacial nervehearingfractionated stereotactic radiotherapygamma-knife radiosurgeryacoustic neuromassingle-fractionoutcomestext::journal::journal article::review article