Most intrasellar meningiomas are located in the subdiaphragmatic and supraglandular region because they originate from the diaphragma sellae. Subglandular meningiomas located under the pituitary gland are extremely rare. Intrasellar meningiomas in the subdiaphragmatic and subglandular region probably originate from the dura in the sellar floor. We report a case of a subglandular meningioma along with a review of the literature.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/*methods ; Meningioma/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Middle Aged ; Pituitary Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Sella Turcica/*pathology

Metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) to the dura, an extremely rare condition, can be symptomatically silent and mistaken for a benign entity radiographically. Missed diagnosis can lead to serious consequences or prove immediately fatal. We report a woman with dural metastasis of NPC that mimicked a meningioma on radiography. Craniectomy with tumour resection was performed due to rapid progression from the onset of symptoms to disability. The patient was still alive two years after surgery. This case emphasises the need to keep in mind the possibility of dural metastasis of NPC in patients with abnormal imaging features. This would not only avoid wrong and optimistic diagnosis, but also allow for appropriate treatment in a timely manner. To our knowledge, this is the first report of metastasis of NPC to the dura. We provide detailed information on the neoplastic lesion, which masqueraded as a benign entity and caused potentially fatal consequences.
Adult ; Brain Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; secondary ; surgery ; Carcinoma ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Disease Progression ; Dura Mater ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Meningioma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Neoplasm Metastasis

BACKGROUNDVarious surgical approaches for the removal of sellar region lesions have previously been described. This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and safety of the frontolateral approach (FLA) to remove sellar region lesions.

METHODSWe presented a retrospective study of 79 patients with sellar region lesions who were admitted and operated by the FLA approach from August 2011 to August 2015 in Department of Neurosurgery of Beijing Tian Tan Hospital. We classified FLA into three types, compared the FLA types to the areas of lesion invasion, and analyzed operation bleeding volume, gross total resection (GTR) rate, visual outcome, and mortality.

RESULTSSeventy-nine patients were followed up from 2.9 to 50.3 months with a mean follow-up of 20.5 months. There were 42 cases of meningiomas, 25 cases of craniopharyngiomas, and 12 cases of pituitary adenomas. The mean follow-up Karnofsky Performance Scale was 90.4. GTR was achieved in 75 patients (94.9%). Two patients (2.5%) had tumor recurrence. No patients died perioperatively or during short-term follow-up. Three patients (3.8%) with craniopharyngioma died 10, 12, and 23 months, respectively, after surgery. The operative bleeding volume of this study was no more than that of the other approaches in the sellar region (P = 0.783). In this study, 35 patients (44.3%) had visual improvement after surgery, 38 patients (48.1%) remained unchanged, and three patients' visual outcome (3.8%) worsened.

CONCLUSIONSFLA was an effective approach in the treatment of sellar region lesions with good preservation of visual function. FLA classification enabled tailored craniotomies for each patient according to the anatomic site of tumor invasion. This study found that FLA had similar outcomes to other surgical approaches of sellar region lesions.

Adult ; Craniopharyngioma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Meningioma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Skull Base ; pathology

BACKGROUND: We wanted to investigate the results of surgical treatment and analyze the factors that have an influence on the neurologic symptoms and prognosis of spinal intradural extramedullary (IDEM) tumors. METHODS: The spinal IDEM tumor patients (11 cases) who had been treated by surgical excision and who were followed up more than 1 year were retrospectively analyzed. Pain was evaluated by the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the neurologic function was assessed by Nurick's grade. The pathological diagnosis, the preoperative symptom duration, the tumor location on the sagittal and axial planes and the percentage of tumor occupying the intradural space were investigated. In addition, all these factors were analyzed in relation to the degree of the preoperative symptoms and the prognosis. On the last follow-up, the MRI was checked to evaluate whether or not the tumor had recurred. RESULTS: The most common diagnosis was schwannomas (73%), followed by meningiomas (18%). The percentage of tumor occupying the intradural space was 82.9 +/- 9.4%. The VAS score was reduced in all cases from 8.0 +/- 1.2 to 1.2 +/- 0.8 (p = 0.003) and the Nurick's grade was improved in all cases from 3.0 +/- 1.3 to 1.0 +/- 0.0 (p = 0.005). The preoperative symptoms were correlated with only the percentage of tumor occupying the intradural space (VAS; r2 = 0.75, p = 0.010, Nurick's grade; r2 = 0.69, p = 0.019). One case of schwannoma recurred. CONCLUSIONS: The degree of neurologic symptoms was correlated with the percentage of tumor occupying the intradural space. All the tumors were able to be excised through the posterior approach. The postoperative neurologic recovery was excellent in all the cases regardless of any condition. Therefore, aggressive surgical excision is recommended even for cases with a long duration of symptoms or a severe neurologic deficit.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Laminectomy/methods ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Meningioma/diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Middle Aged ; Neurilemmoma/diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Neoplasms/diagnosis/pathology/*surgery ; Spine/pathology/surgery

BACKGROUNDSphenoid wing meningioma en plaque is a special morphological subgroup of intracranial meningiomas, defined by a carpet-like, soft tissue component that infiltrates the dura and invades the sphenoid wing and orbit associated with a significant hyperostosis. This report summarized our experiences in 37 patients with sphenoid wing meningioma en plaque who had been treated with transcranio-orbital approach surgery.

METHODSA retrospective study was made on clinical manifestations, neuroradiological features, and operative techniques in 37 patients undergoing transcranio-orbital approach from Sep. 1998 to Apr. 2009. Patients ages: 16 years to 67 years, 45.5 years in average; sex: 15 males, 22 females. Chief complaints were progressive proptosis and visual acuity deficits. All patients were operated on using a fronto-temporal approach with orbital decompression. The extent of tumor resection and postoperative complications were investigated.

RESULTSSimpson grade II resection was achieved in 9 patients, Simpson grade III in 22 patients and Simpson grade IV in 6 patients. Pathological examination showed 27 (73%) patients were meningothelial meningiomas. After surgery, proptosis improved in all patients, visual acuity improved in 18 patients (69%). Temporary ophthalmoplegia was found in 8 patients, cerebrospinal fluid leak was found in 1 patient. Duration of follow up was from 3 months to 9 years, tumor recurred in 7 patients, and 5 patients underwent second surgery, including two trans-nasal endoscopic surgeries to resect sphenoid sinus-involved tumor. There were no operation-related deaths or other significant complications.

CONCLUSIONSSphenoid wing meningioma en plaque, mainly meningothelial meningiomas, are more likely to produce adjacent hyperostosis and have characteristic radiological appearances. All the hyperostosis bone of the great wing of sphenoid bone should be removed to prevent recurrence. Extensive tumor removal with bony decompression at the orbital apex can produce satisfactory cosmetic and functional outcome. Close co-operation between the neurosurgeons and the ophthalmologists is important.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Meningioma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDAtypical meningioma accounts for about 4.7% to 7.2% of all kinds of meningiomas, which is invasive with a relatively high recurrence and mortality. The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical manifestations and therapeutic strategies of atypical meningioma.

METHODSA total of 74 patients who underwent surgical treatment and pathologically confirmed for atypical meningioma in Neurosurgery Department of Beijing Tiantan Hospital from January 2003 to December 2008 were enrolled in this study. The characteristics of the tumors as well as therapeutic regimens and follow-up data were reviewed. After surgery, 56 patients underwent radiotherapy. Patients were followed up for about 3.5 years (range, 0.5 - 6.0 years), and 58 patients completed follow-up.

RESULTSOf the 58 patients who completed follow-up, good recovery was found in 30, neurological dysfunction in 15, and death in 13. Of the 58 patients, 21 had recurrent meningioma and 18 underwent a second surgery.

CONCLUSIONSAtypical meningioma is difficult to manage, with a high recurrence rate and poor survival. The extent of tumor resection and histological grade are the key determinants of outcome. Radiation therapy can be used as an adjunctive treatment after total or partial resection.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Meningioma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

Actins ; metabolism ; Adult ; Brain Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Desmin ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Dura Mater ; chemistry ; pathology ; Female ; Granuloma, Plasma Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Meningeal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Meningioma ; pathology ; Neoplasms, Muscle Tissue ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Vimentin ; metabolism

Adult ; Choroid Plexus Neoplasms ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Ear Neoplasms ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Endolymphatic Sac ; pathology ; Glomus Jugulare Tumor ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Meningioma ; pathology ; Skull Neoplasms ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Temporal Bone ; pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Frontal meningiomas may present only with psychological symptoms that resemble depression, anxiety states, hypomania and schizophrenia. Herein, we present the case of a 55-year-old man who was initially thought to have depression and bipolar disorder, but was eventually diagnosed with frontal lobe syndrome caused by a giant frontal meningioma.
Alcohol Drinking ; adverse effects ; Bipolar Disorder ; chemically induced ; diagnosis ; Brain Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Depression ; chemically induced ; diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Frontal Lobe ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Meningeal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Meningioma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Syndrome

Diagnosis, Differential ; Ependymoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Hemangioblastoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Meningeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Meningioma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Mucin-1 ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Vimentin ; metabolism