Stereotactic radiosurgery and fractionated radiotherapy are two attractive low-morbidity alternatives to surgical resection for managing cranial nerve schwannomas. Treatment outcomes from these radiation treatment approaches are well documented with long-term outcome studies from multiple institutions. Differences in outcome between these two modalities are difficult to define clearly. The low morbidity and high long-term tumor control rates with radiation treatment have made it the choice of many patients who opt for active initial management for small- or medium-sized cranial nerve schwannomas.
