Meningioma. Clinical and Therapeutic Aspects

Overview

The authors analyzed in a group of 35 patients (12 men, 23 women, aged 31-94 years) with meningioma of the central nervous system the site and size of the tumour, incidence of meningiomas in different age groups, and analyzed the intervals from the initial symptoms to the establishment of the diagnosis and operation. They registered extent and effect of the operation, histological type of tissue and indications of postoperative radiation treatment.At twofold predominance of women over men and the peak of incidence in the age group of 50-70 years confirm experience reported in the literature. Three quarters of patients admitted to hospital within one year after the initial manifestation of the tumour have an average 4.1 month interval from the onset of complaints to the diagnosis. The most frequent initial symptom (53.1%) is hemiparesis, the second place is held by headache (34.4%). The third most frequent symptom - an epileptic attack - (28.1%) leads most rapidly to the diagnosis. The organic psychosyndrome in frontal localizations leads most slowly to recognition of the etiology (1.5 years in average). Diagnosed meningiomas include small tumours under 2 cm in 10.3%, medium size (2-3 cm) in 27.6%, and large tumours with a diameter above 3 cm in 62.1%. A radical operation was possible in 71%, postoperative radiation was indicated in 38.7% of the operated patients. In four patients registered during a relapse the silent interval from surgery to new symptoms was 2, 12, 14 and 19 years.The incidence of symptomatic and asymptomatic maningiomas is discussed, based on data from the literature, similarly as the compromise between positive and negative effects of radiation treatment.

Key words:
meningioma - location - incidence - growth rate - radiation therapy