Meningioma of the brain: methods of treating a tumor

Meningioma of the brain accounts for more than a quarter of cases of tumors of this most important organ of man. Meningioma affects the membrane that protects the spinal cord and brain. The disease progresses slowly and can be found in any part of the nervous system. Although the tumor is practically benign in all cases, it is difficult to completely remove it. Less common are malignant forms of the disease (anaplastic and atypical meningioma).

Symptoms of the disease, whether the meningioma of the brain or spinal cord, depend on localization and appear gradually, and at first can be almost invisible. Depending on where the tumor appeared, the symptoms appear as a visual impairment (ambiguity or doubling in the eyes), headaches that increase with time, memory problems, hearing loss, seizures, muscle weakness in the legs or hands.

The symptomatology of the disease, as in all cases associated with brain tumors, is fuzzy, appears and passes, and often resembles symptoms of other ailments, so diagnosis is difficult. The main symptoms are manifested when the meningioma of the brain begins to press on the tissue and affects the areas responsible for coordination, movement, speech, vision, memory, hearing.

Diagnosis of the disease begins with a neurological examination and additional studies using computer tomography, magnetic resonance therapy, biopsy.

Meningioma of the brain: treatment

The fight against the disease is done both with the help of radiation therapy, and surgically. Chemotherapy with meningoma is ineffective and is prescribed only with negative results from the use of other methods.

In some patients, the meningioma of the spinal cord or the brain does not give any symptoms and is detected accidentally. Then careful observation is necessary. And, if the tumor starts to squeeze the surrounding tissue, even without symptoms, it needs to be removed.

The choice of method of treatment of a tumor depends on its stage, size, location.
At the first stage of treatment, to reduce inflammation and swelling in the localization of the tumor, prescribe steroid drugs. With cramps, the doctor prescribes anticonvulsants. In cases of abnormalities in the passage of the cerebrospinal fluid, shunting operations are performed that restore the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid. These measures can prevent and eliminate hydrocephalus. With shunting, the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid from the brain is restored with the help of a thin tube leading to the abdominal cavity, along which excess fluid leaves.

Operative treatment is performed if the meningioma of the brain is located in an accessible area for the intervention of the head. If there is no risk of damage to nerve trunks and blood vessels, surgery to remove the tumor is not difficult, since the margins of the meningioma do not germinate into the brain tissue and have distinct edges. However, when surgery requires trepanation of the skull and there is a possibility of complications - infection, bleeding, damage to brain tissue, nerve trunks and vessels.

If it is not possible to perform surgical intervention for various reasons, the meningioma of the brain is treated with radiation therapy. The disadvantage of the method is the negative effect of radiation on brain tissue. Radiosurgery or cyberknife is a more promising and modern method of treating meningioma.

This method consists in the use of thin beams of radiation directed at the tumor from different angles. This minimizes the irradiation of healthy surrounding tissues, and directs the entire radioactive dose to the pathological focus. In 90% of cases, one or more courses are enough to stop the growth of the meningioma.