Outcomes of Diffusion Tensor Imaging Tractography in Resection for Vestibular Schwannoma for Facial Nerve Preservation

Introduction: Vestibular Schwannomas (VS) treatment includes surgical resection, but impairment of facial nerve function is a common postoperative complication that limits quality of life. Appropriate pre-operative planning with a visualization of the facial nerve is a vital tool for the proper management of this disease. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tractography creates unprecedented in vivo imaging of the anatomical location of white matter tracts. It can be used preoperatively to visualize the displaced facial nerve to increase safety and improve facial nerve outcomes in VS resection. In this study, we analyze the experience of patients who underwent DTI tractography imaging prior to VS resection at a single institution.