Measuring Quality of Life with the PANQOL Questionnaire in Vestibular Schwannoma Patients: A Systematic Review

Monday, October 13, 2025

9:54 AM - 10:00 AM EDT

Location: 244

Disclosure(s):

Michelle H. Kim, BA:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Introduction: Vestibular Schwannomas (VS) are a benign tumor that has been increasing in prevalence due to longer life spans and improved imaging techniques. Management includes observation (“watch acoustics”), microsurgery, and/or radiation and are oftentimes personalized for each patient. Quality of Life (QoL) outcomes are designed to measure QoL and monitor patient experience with disease. The Penn Acoustic Neuroma Quality of Life (PANQOL) is a questionnaire designed and validated for use in VS.

Objective: To describe the PANQOL and any outcome differences between management/treatment types.

Methods: MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase (Elsevier), and Web of Science (Clarivate) were used to search for English articles that use PANQOL to assess QoL in adult patients with VS, excluding pediatric patients and NF2 patients. Randomized control trials, retrospective, and prospective studies were included. Editorials, opinion papers, case reports, case series with n < 5 were excluded. Quality assessment and risk of bias were performed. Two reviewers screened articles and extracted data. All conflicts were resolved by a designated, unbiased third party.

Results: 38 studies utilized the PANQOL to measure QoL in patients with VS. 27 studies had patients under serial observation, 24 had surgical patients, and 11 had radiation patients. Of these studies, 7 had the necessary data for meta-analysis. Comparing total PANQOL scores between treatment cohorts had mean differences of: watch vs surgery=9.10 (95% CI 7.66-10.55, I2=73%); watch vs radiation=5.19 (95% CI 3.41-6.98, I2=83%); surgery vs radiation=-4.25 (95% CI -5.96- -2.54, I2=57%).

Conclusions: The meta-analysis shows statistically significant results; untreated patients score higher on the PANQOL than those that are treated, and surgically-treated patients score lower than radiation-treated patients. However, statistical significance does not equate to clinical significance and all external factors should be considered. Limitations include small sample size and high heterogeneity between studies.

Presenting Author(s)

Michelle H. Kim, BA

Medical Student
Duke University School of Medicine
Durham, NC, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Co-Author(s)

Avivah J. Wang, MD

Otolaryngology Resident
Boston Medical Center
Boston, MA, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
SL

Shweta Lodha, BA

Duke University School of Medicine, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
AK

Ananya Koneti, BS

Duke University School of Medicine, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
Samuel J. Altonji, MD

Fellow - Neurotology
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
CP

Connor Pratson, MD

Duke University School of Medicine Department of Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
ES

Erin Simon, BA

Duke University School of Medicine, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
Leila S. Ledbetter, MLIS, AHIP

Research & Education Librarian
Duke University Medical Center Library & Archives
Durham, NC, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.

Senior Author(s)

Kristal M. Riska, AuD, PhD

Associate Professor HNS&CS
Duke University
Durham, NC, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.

Co-Author(s)

David M. Kaylie, MD

Associate Professor
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.