NEUROSURGERY
THE ATLANTIC LATERAL SKULL BASE PROGRAM

PROGRAM OVERVIEW:
The Atlantic Lateral Skull Base Clinic provides coordinated care through Neurootology (Division of Otolaryngology) Neurosurgery and the Stereotactic Radiotherapy Group to patients with unilateral or bilateral vestibular schwannomas, acoustic neuromas and a range of other lateral skull base tumours.

RESEARCH:
We have developed several research fronts in this program.
What is useful hearing? Speech in noise comprehension with asymmetric hearing in acoustic neuroma subjects, when does the tumor ear stop contributing to binaural hearing?
Database of tumor growth and outcomes. One of the largest series in the world with the  “wait and scan” policy.
Patient expectations and attitudes to acoustic neuroma – questionnaire for all patients in our database.
Subjective hearing handicaps measured with standardized instruments.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
The program provides coordinated care to over 600 patients with a range of lateral skull base tumours including vestibular schwannomas, other cerebellopontine angle tumours, lesions of the petrous apex and jugular foramen. Patients are carefully assessed and appropriate plans formulated. When treatment is required, the experts on our team provide a full range of treatment options including surgery, Stereotactic Radiation Therapy (SRT), balance and hearing rehabilitation.  This program is unique in Canada in allowing members from all disciplines to formulate management decisions in the same clinic.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS:

• To be at the forefront of clinical research in lateral skull base lesions
• To maintain a detailed database allowing critical appraisal of current treatment strategies

PROGRAM GOALS:

• To offer a single centre, multidisciplinary approach for lateral skull base lesions
• To be at the forefront of clinical research in lateral skull base lesions.