[Meningiomas: prognostic relevance of histopathologic and genetic markers]

The majority of meningiomas are histologically benign tumours. Location and invasion of tumour tissue in adjacent structures may hamper radical resections and give rise to recurrences. The rise in human life expectancy has prolonged the postoperative period and thus the risk of tumour recurrence has increased markedly. Infiltration in brain tissue and mitotic activity are important histologic features which negatively influence the disease-free duration of the postoperative period. Molecular studies of relevant genetic defects involved in meningioma are currently underway, but as yet these are of little clinical relevance.