Meningioma
A meningioma is a tumor that grows from the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord, called the meninges. A meningioma is not a brain tumor, but it may press on the nearby brain, nerves and vessels. Meningioma is the most common type of tumor that forms in the head.
Most meningiomas grow very slowly. They can grow over many years without causing symptoms. But sometimes, their effects on nearby brain tissue, nerves or vessels may cause serious disability.
Meningiomas occur more often in women. They’re often found at older ages. But they can happen at any age.
Because most meningiomas grow slowly, often without symptoms, they do not always need treatment right away. Instead, they may be watched over time.
Symptoms of a meningioma most often begin slowly. They may be hard to notice at first. Symptoms may depend on where in the brain the meningioma is. Rarely, it can be in the spine.
Symptoms may include:
- Changes in vision, such as seeing double or blurring.
- Headaches that are worse in the morning.
- Hearing loss or ringing in the ears.
- Memory loss.
- Loss of smell.
- Seizures.
- Weakness in the arms or legs.
- Trouble speaking.
When to see a doctor
Most symptoms of a meningioma come on slowly. But sometimes a meningioma needs care right away.
Seek emergency care if you have:
- Sudden onset of seizures.
- Sudden changes in vision or memory.
Make an appointment to see your healthcare professional if you have lasting symptoms that worry you, such as headaches that get worse over time.
Often, because meningiomas do not cause any symptoms you notice, they are found only from imaging scans done for other reasons.
It isn’t clear what causes a meningioma. Experts know that something changes some cells in the meninges. The changes makes them multiply out of control. This leads to a meningioma.
Being exposed to radiation as a child is the only known environmental risk factor for getting meningioma. There’s no good evidence to show that meningiomas happen because of cellphone use.
Risk factors for a meningioma include:
- Radiation treatment. Radiation therapy that involves the head may increase the risk of a meningioma.
- Female hormones. Meningiomas are more common in women. This might mean that female hormones may play a role. Some studies also have suggested a link between breast cancer and meningioma risk related to the role of hormones. Some research suggests that the use of oral birth control and hormone replacement therapy could raise the risk of meningioma growth.
- An inherited nervous system condition. The rare condition neurofibromatosis 2 increases the risk of meningioma and other brain tumors.
- Obesity. A high body mass index (BMI) is a risk factor for many types of cancers. Several large studies have found that meningiomas happen more often in obese people. But the link between obesity and meningiomas is not clear.
A meningioma and its treatment can cause long-term complications. Treatment most often involves surgery and radiation therapy. Complications may include:
- Trouble focusing.
- Memory loss.
- Personality changes.
- Seizures.
- Weakness.
- Changes in the senses.
- Trouble with language.
Your healthcare professional can treat some complications and refer you to specialists to help you cope with other complications.
A meningioma can be hard to diagnose because the tumor is often slow growing. Symptoms of a meningioma also may be subtle and thought to be other health conditions or signs of aging.
If your healthcare professional suspects a meningioma, you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in conditions of the brain and spine, called a neurologist.
To diagnose a meningioma, a neurologist conducts a thorough neurological exam followed by an imaging test with contrast dye, such as:
- CT scan. CT scans take X-rays that make cross-sectional images of a full picture of the brain. Sometimes an iodine-based dye is used to make the picture easier to read.
- MRI scan. With this imaging study, a magnetic field and radio waves create cross-sectional images of the structures in the brain. MRI scans provide a more detailed picture of the brain and meningiomas.
Sometimes, a sample of the tumor sent to a lab for study, called a biopsy, may be needed to rule out other types of tumors and confirm a meningioma diagnosis.
Treatment for a meningioma depends on many factors, including:
- The size of the meningioma and where it is.
- The rate of growth of the tumor.
- Your age and overall health.
- Your goals for treatment.
Wait-and-see approach
Not everyone with a meningioma needs treatment right away. A small, slow-growing meningioma that isn’t causing symptoms may not need treatment.
If the plan is for you not to have treatment for a meningioma, you’ll likely have brain scans at times to assess your meningioma and look for signs that it’s growing.
If your healthcare provider finds that the meningioma is growing and needs to be treated, you have several treatment choices.
Surgery
If the meningioma causes symptoms or shows signs that it’s growing, your healthcare professional may suggest surgery.
Surgeons work to remove the entire meningioma. But because a meningioma may be near fragile structures in the brain or spinal cord, it isn’t always possible to remove the entire tumor. Then, surgeons remove as much of the meningioma as they can.
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 needed. But you will have follow-up scans from time to time.
- If the tumor is benign and only a small piece remains, then your healthcare professional may suggest follow-up scans only. Some small leftover tumors may be treated with a form of radiation treatment called stereotactic radiosurgery.
- If the tumor is irregular or cancer, you’ll likely need radiation.
Surgery may pose risks including infection and bleeding. The risks of your surgery will depend on where your meningioma is. For instance, surgery to remove a meningioma from around the optic nerve can lead to vision loss. Ask your surgeon about the risks of your surgery.
Radiation therapy
If the entire meningioma can’t be removed surgically, your healthcare professional may suggest radiation therapy after or instead of surgery.
The goal of radiation therapy is to destroy any meningioma cells that are left and reduce the chance that the meningioma may come back. Radiation therapy uses a large machine to aim high-powered energy beams at the tumor cells.
Advances in radiation therapy increase the dose of radiation to the meningioma while giving less radiation to healthy tissue. Radiation therapy types for meningiomas include:
- Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). This type of radiation treatment aims several beams of powerful radiation at a precise point. Despite its name, radiosurgery doesn’t involve scalpels or cuts. Radiosurgery most often is done in an outpatient setting in a few hours. Radiosurgery may be a choice for people with meningiomas that can’t be removed with conventional surgery or for meningiomas that come back despite treatment.
- Fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT). This type gives radiation in small fractions over time, such as one treatment a day for 30 days. This approach may be used for tumors too large for radiosurgery or those in an area where radiosurgery is too strong, such as near the optic nerve.
- Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). This uses computer software to lower the intensity of radiation to the meningioma site. This may be used for meningiomas that are near sensitive brain structures or those with a complex shape.
- Proton beam radiation. This uses radioactive protons aimed right at the tumor. This type lessens damage to the tissue around the tumor.
Medicines
Medicine therapy, also called chemotherapy, rarely is used to treat meningiomas. But it may be used when the meningioma doesn’t respond to surgery and radiation.
There isn’t a widely used chemotherapy approach to the treatment of meningiomas. But researchers are studying other targeted approaches.
References
- Meningioma diagnosis and treatment. National Cancer Institute. https://www.cancer.gov/rare-brain-spine-tumor/tumors/meningioma. Accessed Nov. 8, 2023.
- Ferri FF. Ferri’s Clinical Advisor 2024. Elsevier; 2024. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Nov. 8, 2023.
- Meningiomas. American Association of Neurological Surgeons. https://www.aans.org/en/Patients/Neurosurgical-Conditions-and-Treatments/Meningiomas. Accessed Nov. 14, 2021.
- Park JK, et al. Management of known or presumed benign (WHO grade I) meningioma. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Nov. 8, 2023.
- Ami TR. Allscripts EPSi. Mayo Clinic. Nov. 14, 2023.
- Park JK. Epidemiology, pathology, clinical features, and diagnosis of meningioma. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Nov. 8, 2023.
- Meningioma. American Brain Tumor Association. https://www.abta.org/tumor_types/meningioma/. Accessed Nov. 14, 2021.
- Apra C, et al. Current treatment options for meningioma. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics. 2018; doi:10.1080/14737175.2018.1429920.
- Chronic pain: In depth. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/chronic-pain-in-depth. Accessed Nov. 14, 2021.
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