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​Meningioma

A meningioma is usually a noncancerous tumor that arises from the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

Learn about the treatment options for Meningioma at the UPMC Pituitary Center of Excellence.

Contact the UPMC Department of Neurosurgery

To make an appointment or learn more:

  • Call us at 1-412-647-3685 or outside the U.S., call 1-877-320-8762.
  • Fill out our UPMC Neurosurgery contact form.
  • Overview
  • Symptoms & Diagnosis
  • Treatment

What is Meningioma?

A meningioma is a tumor of the protective linings of the brain and spinal cord. These linings are called meninges. Most meningiomas are benign, though some may be cancerous.

Benign meningioma tumors are generally slow growing. They usually don't cause problems unless they are pushing on the brainstem and/or compressing structures such as optic and cranial nerves.

Malignant (cancerous) meningiomas are faster growing, often cause neurological problems, and can cause swelling in the brain.

Meningioma tumor symptoms may include:

  • Headaches
  • Vision problems
  • Changes in behavior
  • Vomiting
  • Pain

Treatments for meningiomas vary, depending on the type and location.

The neurosurgical team at UPMC may recommend a combination of surgical and non-surgical approaches for treating meningiomas:

  • Endoscopic Endonasal Approach (EEA):The preferred surgical treatment for meningiomas at the base of the skull is the Endoscopic Endonasal Approach. This innovative, minimally invasive technique uses the nose and nasal cavities as natural corridors to access hard-to-reach or previously inoperable tumors. Benefits of EEA include no incisions to heal, no disfigurement, and faster recovery time.
  • Neuroendoport® surgery: The preferred surgical treatment for meningiomas within the ventricles (fluid spaces of the brain) is Neuroendoport surgery. This gives surgeons access to the tumor through a dime-size channel. This minimally invasive approach offers benefits such as minimal scarring, fewer side effects and complications, and faster recovery times than with traditional surgery. 
  • Gamma Knife® radiosurgery: This painless procedure uses hundreds of highly focused radiation beams to target brain tumors and lesions, with no surgical incision. Gamma Knife treatment may be used as a primary management option or after surgery for residual meningioma.

Diagnosing Meningioma

To diagnose a meningioma, your doctor will:

  • Ask about your symptoms and medical history
  • Perform a physical exam
  • Request imaging and diagnostic procedures

Meningioma symptoms

Symptoms of meningioma are usually related to the area of the brain that is affected. Often the symptoms are caused by increased pressure within the skull.

Symptoms may include:

  • Headaches
  • Vomiting
  • Double vision or blurry vision
  • Changes in behavior
  • Seizures
  • Loss of sensation or weakness in the arms and legs
  • Slurred speech (if tumor is on the left side of the brain)
  • Loss of coordination and memory loss (if tumor is in the temporal lobe)
  • Difficulty writing (if tumor is in the parietal lobe)

Testing for meningioma

Your doctor will request imaging and diagnostic procedures such as CT and MRI scans, angiogram, and electroencephalogram (EEG).

You will also be given a neurologic test to assess your motor skills.

Meningioma Treatments

Often both benign and malignant meningiomas require some form of treatment. These treatment options could include surgery and/or stereotactic radiosurgery, depending upon the location of the tumor and symptoms.

Our neurosurgical team may recommend a combination of surgical and non-surgical approaches to maximize the benefits of surgery while minimizing the risks.

Surgery

Malignant meningiomas are surgically removed whenever possible, while benign meningiomas are removed if they are large and/or causing neurologic problems.

The type of procedure depends on the size and location of the tumor.

At UPMC, we take a 360° approach to treatment when evaluating you. We look at your condition from every direction to find the path that is least disruptive to your brain, critical nerves, and ability to return to normal functioning.

Minimally invasive surgery

Several minimally invasive surgical options allow UPMC surgeons to access areas that previously were difficult or impossible to reach.

Meningiomas of the skull base and upper spine may be approached directly using the Endoscopic Endonasal Approach (EEA). This state-of-the-art, minimally invasive approach allows surgeons to access the tumor through the natural corridor of the nose, without making an open incision. Surgeons then remove the meningioma through the nose and nasal cavities.

EEA treatment offers the benefits of no incisions to heal, no disfigurement, and a faster recovery time.

Tumors located in the following areas can be treated with EEA:

  • Transribriform: olfactory groove meningiomas
  • Transplanum: planum sphenoidale meningiomas and tuberculum sellae meningiomas
  • Transsellar: sellar meningiomas
  • Transclival: petroclival meningiomas and foramen magnum
  • Transodontoid: foramen magnum meningiomas, anterior upper spine
  • Transpterygoid: infratemporal fossa meningiomas
  • Transorbital: intraconal meningiomas (located inside the orbit) or extraconal meningiomas (pushing on the periorbit)

If you need complementary treatments, such as radiation, those therapies can begin soon after EEA surgery.

Neuroendoport surgery offers a minimally invasive option for tumors within the ventricles (fluid spaces) or deep-seated tumors within the substance of the brain. A narrow tube or port allows surgeons to access these tumors through a tiny incision in the scalp, in contrast to traditional brain surgery.

Gamma Knife® radiosurgery

Gamma Knife radiosurgery is a painless procedure that uses hundreds of highly focused radiation beams to target tumors and lesions within the brain, with no surgical incision.

Gamma Knife treatment may be used as a primary management option or after surgery for residual meningiomas. For small skull base meningiomas it may be the primary, minimally invasive option. For malignant meningiomas, in addition to surgery, both Gamma Knife radiosurgery and radiation therapy may be needed.

As the nation's leading provider of Gamma Knife procedures, UPMC has treated more than 12,000 patients with tumors, vascular malformations, pain, and other functional problems.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is used only in the treatment of malignant meningiomas. Several medications are available and are generally used in conjunction with surgery and radiation therapy.

Read the EEA Olfactory Groove Meningioma case study.

Meet Maria

Maria del Mar Minguez – Meningioma patient story 

When Spain native Maria del Mar Minguez was diagnosed with a complex brain condition, her family and friends rallied to send her to the experts at UPMC.

Read more »

Meet Acharya

Acharya Yashovijaysuri – Meningioma, Optic Nerve Compression neurosurgery patient story 

When a Jain Guru with 1 million followers was losing his sight, and traditional surgery failed, his followers sought sight-saving endonasal brain surgery at UPMC.

Read more »

 

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