Road to Recovery: Surgical and Non-Surgical Approaches for Meningioma Treatment

What is a Meningioma?

A meningioma is a tumor that arises from the meninges — the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. Although not technically a brain tumor, it is included in this category because it may compress or squeeze the adjacent brain, spinal cord, nerves and vessels. There are several types and grades of Meningioma. Meningiomas are the most common type of primary brain tumor, accounting for approximately 30 percent of all brain tumors.

Most meningiomas grow very slowly, often over many years without causing symptoms. But sometimes, their effects on nearby brain tissue, nerves or vessels may cause serious disability.

Symptoms of Meningiomas

If symptoms occur, they may be very subtle and start slowly as the tumor increases in size and ogresses in the brain or spinal cord. A small meningioma likely will not cause any noticeable symptoms and will only be noticed during routine imaging exams. Depending on where the tumor is located, signs and symptoms may include:

• Changes in vision
• Headaches
• Hearing loss or ringing in the ears
• Memory loss
• Loss of smell
• Seizures
• Weakness in your arms or legs
• Language difficulty

Meningioma Diagnosis

Meningiomas occur more commonly in women and are often discovered at older ages, but they may occur at any age. The tumors grow slowly, often without any significant signs and symptoms, and may exist for years before being detected. They do not always require immediate treatment and most may be monitored over time.

For proper diagnosis, your physician will need to perform a physical and neurological exam, as well as conduct brain scans such as an MRI or CT scan to create detailed images of the brain.

Non-Surgical Treatment of Meningiomas

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 meningioma, you’ll likely have brain scans periodically to evaluate your meningioma and look for any indications that it is increasing in size.

If your physician determines the meningioma is growing and needs to be treated, you have a variety of treatment options. For example, If the meningioma can’t be completely removed surgically, your provider may recommend radiation therapy following or instead of surgery.

The goal of radiation therapy is to destroy any remaining meningioma cells and reduce the chance that the meningioma may recur. Radiation therapy uses a large machine to aim high-powered energy beams at the tumor cells.

Radiation therapy options include:

• Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS)
• Fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT)
• Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
• Proton beam radiation

Surgical Treatment of Meningiomas

If the meningioma causes signs and symptoms or shows signs that it’s growing, your provider may recommend surgery. The complexity of the surgery depends on the tumor location and involvement of nearby nerves and blood cells.

Surgeons will 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.

The type of treatment, if any, you need after surgery depends on several factors.

• If no visible tumor remains, then no further treatment may be necessary. However, you will have periodic follow-up scans.
• If the tumor is benign and only a small piece remains, then your provider may recommend periodic follow-up scans only. In some cases, small leftover tumors may be treated with a form of radiation treatment called stereotactic radiosurgery.
• If the tumor is atypical or malignant, you’ll likely need radiation.

The neurosurgeons at New Jersey Brain and Spine are highly experienced in the treatment of Meningiomas and other brain tumors. We are widely-recognized for our skill, collaboration and innovative surgery techniques. For more information on the treatment of Meningiomas, contact our physicians today.