Addressing the benign meningiomas or brain tumors

Meningiomas are benign tumors that originate in the lining of the brain, cerebellum and medulla. They are, therefore, extracerebral tumors and grow from outside (skull) into (brain), compressing and deforming the nerve tissue without actually invade.

Origin or causes of Meningioma

The specific origin of the meningioma is in the meningeal layer, known as arachnoid and are the cells that multiply exponentially to develop the tumor. There are also other etiological factors: Ttraumatismos cranial, cranial irradiacción of Reklinghausen disease.

Meningioma prevalence in the population

Meningiomas account for 20% of all brain tumors. They are more common in females (3/2) and the incidence rate in the general population is 5 / 100,000. Its most common site is the cranial convexity, followed by parasagittal region, sphenoid wing, olfactory groove, etc.

Symptoms of Meningioma

The symptoms presented varies according to location and size. Some meningiomas reach a large volume without any clinical or at most, non-specific headache. When the situation reaches cranial hypertension produce seizures or neurological deficits or cranial members appear.

Diagnosis of Meningioma

Diagnosis is reached by radiological examinations such as CT or MRI. The images they produce are very characteristic and rarely raise doubts diagnóticas. In this sense meningiomas often discover when MRIs are performed to look for other pathologies. In these asymptomatic cases surveillance is imposed by o12 image every 6 months for 5 years. In elderly most of these meningiomas have minimal or no growth.

Meningioma treatment and postoperative

The usual treatment of meningiomas is surgical, by direct approach, through a craniotomy, with the intention of complete removal of the tumor and meningeal 2 centimeters around the base of tumor implantation. This ensures that the rate of tumor recurrence is minimal.  In locations difficult surgical approach, high morbidity risk or high - risk surgical patients by age or major diseases, the expert in neurosurgery pose stereotactic radiation therapy or radiosurgery.Surgery is usually safe with acceptable general or local complications, depending on their location and the mortality is low.The immediate postoperative period passes through an ICU for 24-48 hours and the hospitalization room is reduced to 3 or 4 days if no complications arise, and return to normal life or work can produce 2 to 4 weeks after.There is considering the option of not treating a meningioma when their growth is checked, given the possibilities already mentioned, since the future is the progressive compression of the brain and displacement delas medial brain structures that cause brain hernias, leading to death.

Edited by Patricia Crespo Pujante