Meningiomas

A SLOW-GROWING TUMOR THAT IS TYPICALLY BENIGN.

A meningioma is a tumor that is located in the meninges, which are the membranes that surround your brain and spinal cord. About 90 percent of meningioma tumors are benign (noncancerous) and they typically grow slowly over months or even years.

Although meningiomas occur most commonly in women, and are often discovered at older ages, they can occur at any age.

Symptoms

Symptoms of a meningioma gradually increase as the tumor grows. Symptoms depend on where the tumor is located, but may include the following:

Headaches that worsen over time
Vision changes, such as blurriness or double vision
Hearing loss or ringing in the ears
Loss of sense of smell
Memory loss
Seizures

Treatment

Treatment depends on the size and location of the meningioma, but they are most commonly treated with surgery.

The vast majority of meningiomas are benign, so for those that aren’t irritating brain tissue or growing too close to critical nerves or blood vessels, your surgeon may suggest a watchful observation with brain scans every three to six months.

Radiation is sometimes used to help reduce the size of a meningioma or to treat small remainders of the tumor after surgery. It can also be used when a patient is not a candidate for surgery.