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Introduction
Although a Meningioma is a brain tumor, they do not arise from the tissues of the brain. They grow from the meninges – the three thin membranes covering your spinal cord and brain. 90% of these tumors are non-cancerous. However certain meningiomas can be malignant (cancerous) or atypical (neither benign nor malignant) in nature. Meningiomas generally grow inward and cause pressure on the brain and the spinal cord. They can also grow outward toward the skull, resulting in thickness.
Meningiomas are most common among women between 40-70 years of age but they can also occur in men. These tumors are rare in children. Meningiomas do not always require immediate treatment and they might not cause any significant symptoms or signs. Only a very small percentage of the meningioma tumors have been therapeutically challenging and aggressive. | |
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Signs & Symptoms of Meningioma
Most meningiomas grow slowly and during the initial stages, it’s symptoms can be very mild. Depending upon its location, the signs that meningiomas show may include:
- Headaches that gradually worsen
- Changes in sight such as blurriness and double vision
- Memory loss
- Hearing Loss
- Seizures
- Focal neurological impairments such as loss of vision or weakness in arms and legs
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Causes of Meningioma
The factors that can cause meningioma are unclear and researchers are still studying various theories to understand their origin. Studies show that a history of breast cancer, previous radiation exposure to the head or type 2 Neurofibromatosis might be risk factors. However, the exact causes remain unknown. | |
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Diagnosis of Meningioma
The presence of a meningioma is diagnosed using CT or MRI scans that involve a contrast or dye injection. These scans help examining various factors such as the size, shape and texture of the tumor and level of bone penetration. While CT scans create a complete picture of your brain, MRI scans provide more detailed images of the brain and meningiomas. | |
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Prevention
Because the exact causes of meningioma are unknown, there are no specific measures to prevent the condition. However, diagnosing the disease at the right time and proper treatment can help you deal with it better. | |
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Treatment of Meningioma
Your treatment for meningioma will depend on several factors such as the size and location of tumor and its level of aggression. Your doctor will also evaluate your general health conditions to identify the best treatment method. Also, not all with meningiomas require treatment.
Surgery: If your meningioma grows in size while exhibiting symptoms, you doctor may recommend surgical removal of the tumor. In situations where it is not possible to remove the meningioma completely, surgeons remove as much as they can and continue treatment with other methods.
Radiation: Your doctor may recommend radiation therapy as a follow up post surgery. Advanced radiation equipments are used to deliver controlled doses of radiation to the meningioma.
If your meningioma cannot be surgically removed or if it recurs after surgery, radiosurgery can be an option. Radiosurgery, a non-invasive technique is also a type of radiation treatment.
Drugs: Recurring meningiomas and tumors that do not respond to conventional surgeries and radiation treatments are being test-treated using certain drugs like hydroxyurea and angiogenesis inhibitors. | |