Meningioma (patient information): Difference between revisions

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There are no methods established for the prevention of meningioma.
There are no methods established for the prevention of meningioma.


==What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?==
==What to Expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?==
As a benign tumor, the prognosis of meningioma depends on the following:
As a benign tumor, the prognosis of meningioma depends on the following:



Revision as of 15:43, 18 June 2019

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Meningioma

Overview

What are the symptoms?

Who is at highest risk?

Diagnosis

When to seek urgent medical care?

Treatment options

Diseases with similar symptoms

Where to find medical care for Meningioma?

Prevention

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

Meningioma On the Web

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

Images of Meningioma

Videos on Meningioma

FDA on Meningioma

CDC on Meningioma

Meningioma in the news

Blogs on Meningioma

Directions to Hospitals Treating Meningioma

Risk calculators and risk factors for Meningioma

Editor-in-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S.,M.D. [1] Phone:617-632-7753; Associate Editor-In-Chief: Jinhui Wu, M.D.

Overview

Meningiomas are the most common benign tumors of the brain (95% of benign tumors), although some may be malignant. It arises from the meninges which surround the brain and spinal cord. A small meningioma causes no significant signs. With the enlargement of the tumor, patients may present with symptoms like changes in vision, for example seeing double or blurriness, headache, hearing loss/tinnitus, memory loss, etc. A meningioma doesn't always require immediate treatment as asymptomatic patients can be managed conservatively. Treatment for symptomatic meningiomas include surgery, radiation, and a combination of both.

What are the Symptoms of Meningioma?

Early meningioma does not have any symptoms. As the lump grows larger, people may notice one or more of the following symptoms:

  • Changes in vision, such as seeing double or blurriness
  • Memory loss
  • Neurological deficits
  • Behavioral changes
  • Loss of the sense of smell

Other health problems may also cause these symptoms. Only a doctor can tell for sure. A person with any of these symptoms should visit the doctor so that the problems can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.

What Causes Meningioma?

At the moment, there are no exact causes of meningioma.

Who is at Highest Risk?

Clinical data has suggested that the development of meningioma is related to several factors.

  • Radiation treatment: Clinical data suggests that head radiation therapy increase the risk of developing meningioma.
  • Female hormones: As a tumor common in women than men, doctors believe that female hormones may play an important role in developing meningioma.

Diagnosis

  • Computed tomography (CT) scan: CT scans are often used to diagnose meningioma. It can confirm the location of the tumor and show the relation of the tumor to other brain structures. These are helpful for determining the stage and whether surgery is a good treatment option.

When to Seek Urgent Medical Care?

A meningioma doesn't always require immediate treatment. And a small, slow-growing meningioma without any signs or symptoms may not require treatment. But call your health care provider if symptoms of meningioma developes.

Treatment Options

Patients with meningioma have many treatment options. The options are surgery, radiation therapy, and a combination of both. Before treatment starts, ask your health care team about possible side effects and how treatment may change your normal activities. Side effects may not be the same for each person, and they may change from one treatment session to the next.

  • Surgery: If the patient presents with signs and symptoms of meningioma, surgery is recommended.
  • Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy is recommended if your meningioma can't be completely removed. The aim is to destroy any remaining meningioma cells and reduce the opportunity to recur. And a specific type of radiation treatment is called radiosurgery, which aims several beams of powerful radiation at a very precise point. Radiosurgery can be selected for people whose meningiomas can not be removed with conventional surgery or whose meningiomas recur.

Where to find medical care for Meningioma?

Directions to Hospitals Treating meningioma

Prevention of Meningioma

There are no methods established for the prevention of meningioma.

What to Expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

As a benign tumor, the prognosis of meningioma depends on the following:

  • The location the tumor
  • Whether or not the tumor can be removed by surgery
  • Whether the tumor has recurred
  • The magnitude of calcification of the tumor and its adherence to surrounding structures

Sources

Mayoclinic.org

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