Surgical strategies for recurrent craniofacial meningiomas

Recurrent cranial base meningiomas are among the most difficult tumors to treat surgically. Although they are histologically benign, these tumors often invade through the cranial base into the infratemporal and pterygopalatine fossae. We reviewed our experience with these tumors to describe the natural history of these lesions as well as provide a possible treatment paradigm.

Between 2000 and 2004, seven patients with meningiomas recurring through the cranial base into facial structures were treated at the University of Utah. Five patients were treated with transcranial approaches only, and two were treated with a combination of transcranial and transfacial approaches.

The average age of our patients (6 women, 1 man) was 55 years. The original site of tumor was the sphenoid wing in four patients, the middle fossa in two patients, and the left frontal region in one patient. The average interval between the most recent tumor resection and recurrence into the face was 9.9 years. The mean number of resections a patient underwent before invasion into the face was two. All but one patient had adjunctive therapy (including either radiation or chemotherapy) before recurrence into the face.

Meningiomas that recur into facial structures present a unique treatment challenge. These lesions have a high rate of recurrence once they have invaded through the cranial base. Although combined approaches may be necessary to achieve a gross total resection, these lesions can often be reached using standard transcranial techniques.