Meningiomas
Meningiomas are tumors that grow from the covering of the brain (meninges) or the spinal cord. Most meningiomas (90%) are categorized as benign tumors, with the remaining 10% being atypical or malignant. However, the word "benign" can be misleading in this case, because when benign tumors grow, constricting and affecting the brain, they can result in disability and even a life threatening condition.
A primary brain tumor originates in the central nervous system, while metastatic brain tumors spread to the brain from other parts of the body. Meningiomas account for about 27% of primary brain tumors, making them the most common of that type.
Meningiomas are most common in people between the ages of 40 and 70. Among middle-aged patients, there is a marked female bias, with a female: male ratio of almost 3:1 in the brain and up to 6:1 in the spinal cord. Meningiomas are very rare in children, with pediatric cases accounting for only 1.5% of the total.
In many cases, benign
meningiomas grow slowly meaning that depending
upon its location, a meningioma may reach a relatively
large size before
it causes symptoms.
Other meningiomas grow more rapidly, or have sudden
growth spurts. There is no way
to predict the
rate of growth
for a meningioma, or to know for certain how long
a specific tumor was growing before diagnosis.
Meningiomas vary in their symptoms
and appropriate
treatment options depending on where they are located. These tumors may
cause seizures,
headaches, and
focal neurological
defects, such
as arm or leg weakness, or vision loss. Patients often have subtle symptoms
for a long period
before
the meningioma
is diagnosed. Sometimes memory loss, carelessness, and unsteadiness are
the only
symptoms.