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Scientists at Christian Medical College, Medical College target vestibular schwannoma
2009 JUL 13 - (NewsRx.com) -- In this recently published article, scientists in Vellore, India conducted a study "To determine the causes of delay in diagnosis and treatment of Indian patients with vestibular schwannomas. In a prospective study from 2003 to 2005, 50 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of vestibular schwannoma were interviewed to determine the causes for (1) the delay between the patient noting the initial symptom and the definitive diagnosis, and (2) the reasons for delayed diagnosis." "In 90 per cent of patients, the initial symptom was either hearing loss (62 per cent), vertigo (24 per cent) or tinnitus (4 per cent). However, most patients had been diagnosed and had presented for surgery only after neurological symptoms had became apparent. The delay between the initial medical consultation and the final diagnosis ranged from one month to 204 months (mean +/- standard deviation, 32.2 +/- 38.9 months). After the patient had noted symptoms, the diagnosis of vestibular schwannoma was delayed due to doctor-related causes in 80 per cent of cases, and due to patient-related causes in 20 per cent. Delay following diagnosis was minimal," wrote R. Ambett and colleagues, Christian Medical College, Medical College. The researchers concluded: "Delay in the diagnosis of vestibular schwannoma in Indian patients is due to both doctor- and patient-related factors.." Ambett and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Laryngology and Otology (Analysis of causes for late presentation of Indian patients with vestibular schwannoma. Journal of Laryngology and Otology, 2009;123(5):502-508). For more information, contact V. Rupa, Christian Medical College, Dept. of ENT, Vellore 632004, Tamil Nadu, India. Publisher contact information for the Journal of Laryngology and Otology is: Cambridge University Press, Edinburgh Bldg, Shaftesbury Rd., CB2 8RU Cambridge, England. Keywords: India, Vellore, Audiology, Clinical Trial Research, Laryngology, Neurilemmoma, Oncology, Otolaryngology, Otology, Sensorineural Hearing Loss, Tinnitus, Vertigo, Vestibular Schwannoma, Christian Medical College, Medical College. This article was prepared by Biotech Business Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Biotech Business Week via NewsRx.com.
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