A meningioma is a tumor that arises from the meninges \u2014 the membranes that surround your brain and spinal cord. Most meningiomas are benign, though rarely a meningioma\u00a0can be cancerous. Some meningiomas are classified as atypical, meaning they’re neither benign nor malignant but, rather, something in between. Meningiomas occur most commonly in older women. But a meningioma can occur in males and at any age, including childhood. A meningioma doesn’t always require immediate treatment. A meningioma that causes no significant signs and symptoms may be monitored without surgical intervention.<\/p>\n
Symptoms<\/h4>\n
Signs and symptoms of a meningioma typically begin gradually and may be very subtle at first. Depending on where in the brain or spine the tumor is situated, signs and symptoms may include:<\/p>\n
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- Changes in vision, such as double vision or blurriness<\/li>\n
- Headaches that worsen with time<\/li>\n
- Hearing loss<\/li>\n
- Memory loss<\/li>\n
- Loss of smell<\/li>\n
- Seizures<\/li>\n
- Weakness in your arms or legs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Most signs and symptoms of a meningioma evolve slowly, but sometimes a meningioma requires emergency care. Seek emergency care if you have sudden onset of seizures and\/or sudden changes in your vision or memory.<\/p>\n
Make an appointment to see your doctor if you have persistent signs and symptoms that concern you, such as headaches that worsen over time.<\/p>\n
Causes\/Risk Factors<\/h4>\n
It isn’t clear what causes a meningioma. Doctors know that something alters some cells in your meninges \u2014 the membranes that form a protective barrier around your brain and spinal cord \u2014 to make them multiply out of control, leading to a meningioma tumor. But the cause is unknown. Risk factors for a meningioma include:<\/p>\n
Radiation treatment:<\/strong> Radiation therapy that involves radiation to the head may increase the risk of a meningioma.<\/p>\n
Female hormones:<\/strong> Meningiomas are more common in women, leading doctors to believe that female hormones may play a role.<\/p>\n
An inherited nervous system disorder:<\/strong> The rare disorder neurofibromatosis type 2 increases the risk of meningioma and other brain tumors.<\/p>\n
Diagnosis<\/h4>\n
A meningioma may be detected on an imaging test, such as:<\/p>\n
Computerized tomography (CT) scan: <\/strong>CT scans take X-rays that create cross-sectional images (like slices) of your brain and head. These images are combined together by a computer to create a full picture of your brain. Sometimes an iodine-based dye is used to augment the picture.<\/p>\n
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI):<\/strong> With this imaging study, a magnetic field and radio waves are used to create cross-sectional images of the structures within your brain. MRI scans provide a more detailed picture of the brain and meningiomas.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\tTreatment Options<\/h4>\n
The treatment you receive for a meningioma depends on many factors, including the size of your meningioma, where it’s situated and how aggressive it’s believed to be. Your doctor will also take into consideration your overall health and your goals for treatment. Treatment options include:<\/p>\n
Wait-and-see approach:<\/strong> Immediate treatment isn’t necessary for everyone with a meningioma. A small, slow-growing meningioma that isn’t causing signs or symptoms may not require treatment. If the plan is not to undergo treatment for your meningioma, you’ll likely have brain scans periodically to evaluate your meningioma and look for signs that it’s growing. If your doctor determines your meningioma is growing and needs to be treated, you have several treatment options.<\/p>\n
Surgical Intervention:<\/strong> If your meningioma causes signs and symptoms or shows signs that it’s growing, your doctor may recommend surgery. Surgeons work to remove the meningioma completely. But because a meningioma may occur near many delicate structures in the brain or spinal cord, it isn’t always possible to remove the entire tumor. In those cases, surgeons remove as much of the meningioma as possible.<\/p>\n
Surgery may pose risks including infection and bleeding. The specific risks of your surgery will depend on where your meningioma is located. For instance, surgery to remove a meningioma that occurs around the optic nerve can lead to vision loss. Ask your surgeon about the specific risks of your surgery.<\/p>\n
Radiation therapy:<\/strong> If your meningioma can’t be completely removed, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy following surgery. The goal of radiation therapy is to destroy any remaining meningioma cells and reduce the chance that your meningioma may recur. Radiation therapy uses a large machine to aim high-powered energy beams at the tumor cells.<\/p>\n
Advances in radiation therapy increase the dose of radiation to the meningioma while reducing radiation to healthy tissue. These include fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Proton beam radiation may be an option, but whether this is superior to standard radiation is unclear.<\/p>\n
Radiosurgery:<\/strong>\u00a0a type of radiation treatment that aims several beams of powerful radiation at a precise point. Contrary to its name, radiosurgery doesn’t involve scalpels or incisions. Radiosurgery typically is done in an outpatient setting in a few hours. Radiosurgery may be an option for people with meningiomas that can’t be removed with conventional surgery or for meningiomas that recur despite treatment.<\/p>\n
Fractionated radiation:<\/strong> For tumors too large for radiosurgery or those in an area that can’t tolerate the high intensity of radiosurgery \u2014 such as near the optic nerve \u2014 a possible option is fractionated radiation. This involves delivering the radiation in small fractions over time. For example, this approach might require one treatment a day for 30 days.<\/p>\n
Drugs:<\/strong> For people with meningiomas that recur or don’t respond to surgery and radiation, doctors are trying different system treatments. Unfortunately, most chemotherapy has not proved valuable, but some drugs, such as hydroxyurea (Droxia, Hydrea), are sometimes used. Other drugs are being tested as well, such as those that prevent the release of growth hormones (somatostatin analogs). More recently, medications that inhibit the tumor’s ability to recruit blood vessels (angiogenesis inhibitors) have shown some promise, but the data is preliminary. Much more study is needed.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>
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