Meningioma

Meningioma is common (15.31% of intracranial tumors; 2nd after glioma). Adults > elderly/children > infants; female>male. Benign meningeal-cell tumor; important orbital tumor. High incidence; severe visual destruction; wide invasion; spreads into bony canals/fissures/walls; postoperative recurrence; may cause death. Some hard to localize.

Common Symptoms

Hydrocephalus; empty sella; secondary optic atrophy; exophthalmos; frontal mass; raised ICP; retrobulbar neuritis

Causes and Pathogenesis

Etiology unknown; environment + gene mutation; trauma/radiation/virus/bilateral acoustic neuroma; accelerated arachnoid-cell division. 4 classes: meningothelial, mesenchymal non-meningothelial, primary melanocytic, uncertain origin. Some linked to trauma/scarring (unproven). Radiation induces skin/lip/tongue/esophageal cancer; second tumors years later. Chemicals: anthracenes/N-nitroso. Viruses: adenovirus/SV40/sarcoma virus. Embryonic remnants: craniopharyngioma/chordoma/teratoma/epidermoid/dermoid. Mechanism: meningothelial; from arachnoid villi/embryonic remnants; 11 subtypes (meningothelial 53.5%, fibrous, transitional, psammomatous, vascular, microcystic, secretory, clear-cell, chordoid, lymphoplasmacyte-rich, metaplastic). Spherical (common) vs flat (≤1cm, skull base). Rich dual supply (ECA/ICA/vertebrobasilar). Dark-red cut; lipid-laden cream-yellow; woven pattern; psammoma calcification; cysts. Whorls/concentric rings with central hyalinization/calcification. Fibrovascular/adipose/bone/cartilage/melanin. WHO grade I.

Treatment

Drug, rehabilitation, surgery

Preventive Measures

(1) Avoid carcinogens: 80% cancers preventable by lifestyle; 90% environmental (1969 Higginson). Air/water/food/habits. (2) Boost immunity: stop smoking; diet; exercise; weight control. Diet/exercise/stress. Vitamin A (mucosa/vision; liver/eggs/milk; beta-carotene); low vitamin A = higher cancer risk; clears free radicals. Beta-carotene alone may increase lung cancer (smokers); combined with C/E = protective. Vitamin C/E = anti-oxidants; C protects sperm; E reduces skin cancer. Phytochemicals: thousands of plant compounds with anti-cancer activity; antioxidants in fruits/vegetables stronger than pure vitamins.

Department to Visit

It is recommended to visit the Neurosurgery department; an appointment can be booked on this platform before the visit.

Warm reminder: The above information is for health science reference only and cannot replace professional medical diagnosis. If you have related symptoms, please seek medical attention at a regular hospital promptly.