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The Brain Tumor Is Benign, but Threats Remain

In the frightening world of brain tumors, “benign” is a good word to hear. But even a nonmalignant tumor can be dangerous — especially if, as in my case, it goes undetected, becoming a stealth invader. “Anecdotally, we often hear about women who were originally misdiagnosed — sometimes for years,” said Tom Halkin, a spokesman for the patient advocacy nonprofit National Brain Tumor Society... Nonmalignant meningiomas are twice as common in women as in men, though no one is sure why. Studies have examined the role of hormones and reproductive factors, but “nothing conclusive has come out of these studies,” said Jill Barnholtz-Sloan, a brain tumor epidemiologist at the Case Western Reserve University…

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 The Many Manifestations of Meningiomas

Eighty years ago, the father of modern neurosurgery, Harvey Cushing, published a now-famous monograph on his more than 30-year experience treating more than 300 meningiomas beginning in 1896. Back then, safely removing such formidable tumors without a surgical microscope, or the endoscope and modern anesthetic techniques was extremely challenging and risky. Nonetheless, Cushing’s surgical skills, attention to detail and perseverance paid off for his patients and the future of neurosurgery. Flash forward to the present, and meningioma surgery has truly evolved into a nuanced array of surgical procedures tailored to the specifics of the tumor location and size. Given that this most common primary brain tumor can arise literally anywhere within the intracranial dural surfaces – the thick membrane that surrounds the brain – and even inside the fluid filled chambers (ventricles) of the brain, neurosurgeons need to have a full surgical armamentarium for their removal, ideally using keyhole techniques that maximize tumor removal and minimize risk of collateral damage and complications.

Articles of Interest

After One Writer Finds Out She Has a Brain Tumor, She Confronts It Head On

“There is a large mass growing in your brain,” he says. His expression is pained as he points to a sizable black blob at the upper right of one scan. “I’m 80 percent sure it’s something called a meningioma, which occurs in the outer layer of the brain, the meninges, and is benign. If it is that, it’s the best kind of brain tumor to have.” You really just said that? I think. “But it’s gotten so large it’s making your brain swell, which is why you have this headache.” The one I’ve had for a few days that woke me up sobbing at 3:00 a.m.

Me, Myself, and the Meningioma

What lessons did I learn throughout my journey? Most importantly, trust your instincts when something doesn’t feel right and continue to search for answers if needed. I also learned firsthand that the brain has a remarkable resiliency that allows the body to recover after suffering neurological deficits. My experience also led me to become a neuro-oncologist.

Outlook for Patients With Meningioma

Getting diagnosed with a brain tumor such as a meningioma can feel devastating. You may find yourself grappling with many questions, mostly about what the future holds. "Is this condition treatable? How will it change my life? What can I do to manage and get the best care?" These are just some of the many questions that may start naturally racing through your mind. A meningioma is one of the most prevalent primary brain tumors, and a diagnosis showing that you have one can be worrisome without having answers. Here is a comprehensive guide to answer your questions regarding your outlook if you are diagnosed with a meningioma.

Advances and trends in meningioma research over the last decade: A scientometric and visual analysis

Meningioma is one of the most common central nervous system tumors, accounting for more than 30% of primary intracranial tumors in adults, second only to glioma, and relatively rare in children and adolescents.

Blindsided By a Tumor Few Study

Meningiomas arise in the outer membrane of the brain and are usually described as benign and slow-growing. But the benign label is misleading, Mrs. Levy said. Depending on their size and location, these tumors can severely disable or kill people, she said. Nearly 20 percent of them to recur, sometimes repeatedly. No one knows why.

Challenges and Opportunities in Future Meningioma Research and Care

There has never been a more exciting time in meningioma research and care. As analytic tools improve and interest grows, great strides can occur toward understanding and treating meningiomas.

Hormone medication could increase risk of brain tumours, French study finds

Millions of women around the world who use certain hormone drugs for contraception and to manage conditions such as endometriosis may have a raised risk of rare, usually benign, brain tumours, researchers say. Scientists found that prolonged use of certain progestogen medications was linked to a greater risk of meningioma, which are tumours (usually noncancerous) that form in tissues around the brain. But while the risk of meningioma was higher in women who took the medications for more than a year, one leading expert said the finding should not worry past or present users because the elevated risk remained “extremely small”.

How to live with a meningioma: experiences, symptoms, and challenges reported by patients

Patients with meningiomas exhibit symptoms that continue well after treatment with fatigue and cognitive impairments as the most bothersome. Moreover, patients report key communication gaps that can be addressed to improve their disease experience and care.

Mary Tyler Moore’s Battle with Meningioma

Women have a much higher incidence of meningiomas, one theory currently being explored is the relationship between meningiomas and hormones.

Meningioma Symptoms: A Neurosurgeon Explains What to Look For

When most people think of a health condition that comes without warning, they probably think of high blood pressure (hypertension), type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol. But did you know that the most common type of benign (noncancerous) brain tumor—meningioma—is also a silent intruder? Making up about 40% of all primary brain tumors in the United States, meningiomas usually don’t show any signs, especially when they're just starting. People with meningiomas might not feel anything wrong, and the tumor is often found incidentally, when doctors do tests for other health reasons.

Meningioma: A Review of Epidemiology, Pathology, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Future Directions

Meningiomas are the most common intracranial tumor, making up more than a third of all primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors. They are mostly benign tumors that can be observed or preferentially treated with gross total resection that provides good outcomes. Meningiomas with complicated histology or in compromising locations has proved to be a challenge in treating and predicting prognostic outcomes.

Meningioma: not always a benign tumor. A review of advances in the treatment of meningiomas

Meningiomas are the most common primary intracranial tumors. The majority of meningiomas are benign, but they can present different grades of dedifferentiation from grade I to grade III (anaplastic/malignant) that are associated with different outcomes. Radiological surveillance is a valid option for low-grade asymptomatic meningiomas. In other cases, the treatment is usually surgical, aimed at achieving a complete resection.

Meningiomas in Ancient Human Populations

Meningiomas are the most common tumor of the central nervous system and can result in skeletal manifestations, including hyperostosis of the adjacent cranial bone, enostoses, depressions, and enhanced vascular impressions. However, their identification in the paleopathological literature has been rare and few cases have received broad acceptance of the diagnosis.

Ongoing clinical challenges in the management of meningiomas and future directions

Meningiomas are the most common primary central nervous system (CNS) tumor in adults, making up 39.7% of all brain tumors and 55.4% of all benign brain tumors diagnosed in the United States. While these tumors are frequently treated by neurosurgeons, neuro-oncologists, and radiation oncologists, they remain understudied compared to malignant CNS tumors such as glioblastoma or medulloblastoma.

Resources

American Association of Neurological Surgeons

Meningiomas are the most common benign intracranial tumor. They originate from arachnoid cap cells, which are cells within the thin, spider web-like membrane that covers the brain and spinal cord. The arachnoid is one of three protective layers, collectively known as the meninges, which surround the brain and the spinal cord.