Vestibular schwannoma (VS) are equally common in men and woman. A number of epidemiological studies have reported on sex-specific aspects of incidence, tumor size, tinnitus and hearing loss. However, data on sex-specific, pre- and post-surgically quality of life (QoL) are rare. The objective of the present study was to determine sex-specific aspects on QoL in VS. Health-related QoL was analyzed in 260 patients (112 male/148 female) with unilateral sporadic VS using general (SF-36: general Short-Form Health Survey), disease-specific (PANQOL: Penn Acoustic Neuroma Quality-of-Life Scale, PANQOL) and symptom-specific (DHI: Dizziness Handicap Inventory; HHI: Hearing Handicap Inventory; THI: Tinnitus Handicap Inventory; FDI: Facial Disability Index) QoL questionnaires. Sex differences were evaluated pre- and postoperative by multi- and univariate analyses based on 200 preoperative and 88 postoperative questionnaires. Female patients were significantly more affected by dizziness, headaches, reduced energy and anxiety. Energy and balance changed similarly in both sexes after surgery. However, postoperative women tended to be more affected by facial palsy and headaches than men. Despite the greater physical impairment, general health improved equivalently or even more in female patients than in males. In conclusion, self-rated QoL in VS is significantly affected by sex and surgery. This should be taken into account when counseling VS patients regarding observation, radiotherapy, and surgery.
前庭神经鞘瘤在男性和女性中的发病率相当。多项流行病学研究已报道了该病在发病率、肿瘤大小、耳鸣及听力损失方面的性别特异性差异。然而，关于手术前后生活质量性别差异的数据较为缺乏。本研究旨在探讨前庭神经鞘瘤患者生活质量的性别特异性差异。研究采用通用量表（SF-36简明健康调查）、疾病特异性量表（PANQOL宾夕法尼亚听神经瘤生活质量量表）及症状特异性量表（DHI眩晕障碍量表、HHI听力障碍量表、THI耳鸣障碍量表、FDI面部残疾指数）对260例单侧散发性前庭神经鞘瘤患者（男性112例/女性148例）的健康相关生活质量进行评估。基于200份术前问卷和88份术后问卷，通过多变量与单变量分析对术前术后性别差异进行统计。结果显示，女性患者在眩晕、头痛、精力减退及焦虑方面受影响程度显著更高。术后两性能量与平衡功能改善程度相似，但女性患者术后更易受面瘫和头痛影响。尽管女性患者躯体功能障碍更明显，其总体健康状况改善程度与男性相当甚至更优。综上，性别与手术显著影响前庭神经鞘瘤患者的自评生活质量，在制定观察、放疗及手术方案时应充分考虑这一因素。
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家