The Meningioma Initiative at Brigham and Women's Hospital
Outcome
The location of the tumor is the most important factor in determining the outcome. Due to their location, convexity, parasagittal and lateral sphenoid wing meningiomas usually are completely removable and surgery can yield excellent results. Optic sheath and skull based meningioma yield a higher rate of complication and are more difficult to completely resect.
If the patient is elderly or in otherwise poor health prior to surgery, this may also affect the results. Some recent studies suggest no difference in the viability of surgery dependant upon age and recommend surgery for elderly patients in good general condition.
80% of patients reported satisfaction with their post-treatment quality of life.
How should meningiomas be followed up?
Patients should be aware that meningiomas do sometimes reoccur after surgery or radiation. The symptoms of meningiomas vary depending upon their location, so if recurrent tumors are located in a different part of the brain or spinal cord, the symptoms they present may be very different than those the patient experienced with the previous meningioma.
Regular follow-up MRI or CT scans (once every one to three years) are an important part of long term health care for anyone who has been diagnosed with a meningioma. Since there is no concrete way to predict whether or not anyone will develop a recurrent tumor, or how quickly any untreated meningioma may grow, it is important to be proactive about monitoring yourself for recurrences.
What are factors that can lead to recurrence?
The recurrence rate depends upon completeness of removal, where the tumor is located, and how aggressive the tumor is.
What is the recurrence rate?
For apparent complete removal, recurrence runs between 8% to 20% over ten years. For patients who have obvious residual tumor, the rate of recurrence is 29% to 55% over a 10 year period.
Recurrence of benign, completely resected meningiomas has been ascribed to nests of meningioma cells in the adjacent dura, but may also be caused by residual pieces of tumor that went undetected at surgery. Even if you have been told that your resection is complete, you should be vigilant in your watch for recurrent tumors.
What is the survival rate?
Recent reports of all meningioma types show a 15 year survival rate of 63% and a five year survival rate of 69%. The median survival is more than 10 years, but it should be noted that this number is limited by the elderly age of many patients at detection.
How can I find support for myself and my family?
Please look here for information about local support groups.
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