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Meningiomas
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Meningiomas are benign tumors arising from the thick membranes that surround and protect the brain. Most meningiomas are slow growing; however, they may cause neurologic symptoms that depend on their location and size. Meningiomas will commonly "push" the brain as they grow. They are capable of engulfing the bone of the skull to grow outside the cranial vault, and, rarely, they will actually invade the brain. They may squeeze cranial nerves, such as the optic nerve or hearing nerve, as they exit the skull potentially causing such symptoms as blindness or hearing loss. Meningiomas are typically treated with either close observation if asymptomatic or with surgical resection if threatening neurologic function. It is not unusual for a partially resected, recurrent, or large deep meningiomas to be treated with conventional radiation therapy given daily over six weeks. Patients with small to moderated sized meningiomas which are not easily surgically accessible may be effectively treated with Gamma Knife radiosurgery. This treatment option is also very attractive for patients with medical problems that make anesthesia and surgical resection less tolerable. Meningiomas, like acoustic neuromas, do not necessarily show significant shrinkage after Gamma Knife radiosurgery. The goal of radiosurgery is to achieve durable long term growth control (i.e. growth arrest) thereby avoiding further neurological deterioration. Gamma Knife radiosurgery has the advantages of high efficacy, low toxicity, and speedy recovery for selected patients with meningiomas. [Keywords: meningiomas, benign tumors] |
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