Current Surgical Strategies in the Treatment of Intracranial Meningiomas

European Association of NeuroOncology Magazine 2013; 3 (3): 112-117

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Keywords: complete resection,  meningioma,  radiosurgery,  skull base surgery

Meningiomas account for approximately 35 % of all primary intracranial CNS tumours and the mean age at the time of diagnosis is 63 years. Currently, the best-evaluated risk factor in association with meningiomas is exposure to ionizing radiation. Depending on their location, meningiomas can present with a wide variety of symptoms and in several locations; they can reach a reasonable size before becoming symptomatic due to their slow growth. On the other hand, in specific regions, early presentation is also possible due to compression of neurovascular structures. Ever since the publication by Harvey Cushing, surgical removal has been the treatment of choice and the risk of recurrence depends strongly on the degree of resection. In the past decades, due to higher morbidity rates with removing skull base meningiomas due to the close proximity to vital neurovascular structures, radiosurgery has become a viable option in specific locations for treating residual tumour tissue or Abstract: Meningiomas account for approximately 35 % of all primary intracranial CNS tumours and the mean age at the time of diagnosis is 63 years. Currently, the best-evaluated risk factor in association with meningiomas is exposure to ionizing radiation. Depending on their location, meningiomas can present with a wide variety of symptoms and in several locations; they can reach a reasonable size before becoming symptomatic due to their slow growth. On the other hand, in specific reas stand-alone therapy in case of cavernous-sinus meningiomas. Nevertheless, surgical resection remains the main treatment modality for most intracranial meningiomas.