Meningiomas
Understanding a Common Type of Brain Tumor
A meningioma is a type of tumor that grows in the meninges. These are the protective layers around brain and spinal cord. Most meningiomas, 90 percent, are not cancerous, but some can be.
These tumors usually grow slowly and may not cause any noticeable symptoms for years. If they grow large or press on important parts of key areas of the brain, they can cause problems with seeing, hearing, speaking, memory or movement.
Meningiomas can happen to anyone, but they are most common in adults aged 40 to 50 and twice as common in women as in men.
Common Symptoms
Not all meningiomas cause symptoms, especially when they are small. The most common symptoms include:
- Headaches
- Blurry or double vision
- Weakness or numbness in the arms or legs
- Seizures
- Hearing loss or ringing in the ears
- Trouble speaking
- Memory loss
How Meningiomas Are Diagnosed
Meningiomas are diagnosed most frequently through tests such as:
- CT Scan (Computed Tomography) - a type of X-ray that shows detailed pictures of the brain.
- MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) - uses magnets and radio waves. It creates images of the brain and spinal cord.
- Biopsy - a small piece of tissue removed with a needle or incision and tested to learn more about the tumor.
Treatment Options
- Observation (or “watchful waiting”) – If a meningioma is small and is not causing any problems, your doctor may monitor it with regular CT or MRI scans.
- Surgery – If the tumor needs to be removed, a neurosurgeon may perform surgery. This means creating a hole in the skull to remove some or all the tumor. We aim to avoid harming nearby brain tissue.
Follow-Up Care
Even after treatment, there is a small chance the tumor will grow back. Doctors suggest getting follow-up CT or MRI scans every few years. This helps check for any tumor growth.
