Surgery for convexity meningiomas

Meningiomas that occur over the convexity of the brain are the most common meningiomas, but little has been published about their contemporary management. We aimed to analyze a large series of convexity meningiomas with respect to surgical technique, complication rates, and pathological factors leading to recurrence.

We retrospectively reviewed 163 cases of convexity meningiomas operated on in our institution by the senior author (PMB) between 1986 and 2005. The median follow-up time was 2.3 years (range, 1-13 yr).

Convexity tumors represented 22% of all meningiomas operated on. There was a female:male ratio of 2.7:1. Median age was 57 years (range, 20-89 yr). Image-guided surgery was used on all cases in the last 5 years. The 30-day mortality rate was 0%. The incidence of new neurological deficits was 1.7%, and the overall complication rate was 9.4%. The pathology of the tumors was benign in 144 (88.3%), atypical in 16 (9.8%), and anaplastic/malignant in 3 (1.8%). In six of the cases designated "benign," there were borderline atypical features. The 5-year recurrence rate for benign meningiomas was 1.8%, atypical meningiomas 27.2%, and anaplastic meningiomas 50%. The two cases of benign tumor recurrences involved tumors with borderline atypia and high MIB-1 indices. The borderline atypical cases had a 5-year recurrence-free survival rate of only 55.9%, more closely approximating that of tumors designated "atypical."

Convexity meningiomas can be safely removed using modern image-guided minimally invasive surgical techniques with a very low operative mortality. Benign convexity meningiomas having a Simpson Grade I complete excision have a very low recurrence rate. The recurrence rates of atypical and malignant tumors are significantly higher, and borderline atypical tumors should be considered to behave more like atypical rather than benign lesions. Longer-term follow-up data are needed to more accurately determine the recurrence rates of benign meningiomas.