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300 Longwood Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 355-6000
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My Child Has:
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Meningioma
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A meningioma is a benign tumor originating from the membranes covering of the brain and spinal cord. They can occur in any location where there is a dural covering. Examples include the sphenoid wing, the base of the skull, the clivus, parasagittal areas, tentorial, cavernous sinus, suprasellar, optic sheath, foramen magnum, and spine. These tumors are more common in children than adults.
Meningiomas can occur in any age group with an incidence of 2 per 100,000 and represent less than 1percent of brain tumors in children. They occur most commonly in the 6th and 7th years of life. They are rare in children with a slight increased prevalence in boys.
As you read further below, you will find general information about meningiomas. If you would like to view summary information about brain tumors first, see the overview on brain tumors.
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The following are the most common symptoms of a meningioma, however each child may experience symptoms differently. Common symptoms may include:
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- seizures
- hemiparesis (one-sided weakness)
- visual disturbance
- difficulty finding words
- disturbances of cranial nerves
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Meningiomas may also have no obvious symptoms and may be discovered through dignostic scans obtained for other reasons.
The symptoms of a brain tumor may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Always consult your child's physician for a diagnosis.
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Meningiomas are benign tumors, although there are rare malignant meningiomas. The majority of meningiomas are classified as meningotheliomatous or syncitial, fibrous, transitional, or angioblastic. The World Health Organization has developed a grading system, which scores architecture, cellularity, nuclear pleomorphism, mitotic figures, necrosis, and brain infiltration. Using the WHO scoring system, tumors are graded as grade I (benign), grade II (atypical), grade III (anaplastic) and grade IV (sarcomatous). Over 90 percent of tumors are classified as benign based on this system. The grading system has prognostic significance for behavior.
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Diagnostic procedures for meningioma may include:
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- computerized tomography scan (also called a CT or CAT scan) - a diagnostic imaging procedure that uses a combination of x-rays and computer technology to produce cross-sectional images (often called slices), both horizontally and vertically, of the body. CT scans are more detailed than general x-rays.
- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - a diagnostic procedure that uses a combination of large magnets, radiofrequencies, and a computer to produce detailed images of organs and structures within the body.
- magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) - a test done along with MRI at specialized facilities that can detect the presence of particular organic compounds produced by the body's metabolism within sample tissue that can identify tissue as normal or tumor, and may be able to distinguish between glial tumors and tumors of neuronal origin
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Specific treatment for a meningioma will be determined by your child's physician based on:
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- your child's age, overall health, and medical history
- type, location, and size of the tumor
- extent of the disease
- your child's tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
- how your child's doctors expects the disease to progress
- your opinion or preference
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Treatment may include:
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- surgery - complete surgical removal is the treatment of choice for most meningiomas however, incomplete removal may be more appropriate for tumors in specific locations such as meningiomas of the medial sphenoid wing, orbital, tentorial, clival and posterior parasagittal tumors.
- radiation therapy - can decrease the recurrence rate in incompletely removed tumors. Stereotactic radiotherapy is useful to minimize the dose to surrounding structures and is particularly useful to treat meningiomas adjacent to the optic nerves or brainstem.
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Depending upon the site of the recurrence, additional surgery is generally attempted. In some cases, radiotherapy is considered if resection cannot be performed.
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Children's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute are conducting numerous research studies that will help clinicians better understand and treat meningioma. For more information on current research, see the Brain Tumor Program.
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The information on this website should not be taken as medical advice,
which can only be given to you by your personal health care professional. |
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Copyright © Children's Hospital Boston. All rights reserved. |
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