Giant malignant meningioma invading the calvarial bone and scalp

Zheng-yong Li1, Ying Cen, Mingjing Gu

  • 1Department of Plastic Surgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, PR China. lizydd@sina.com

Insights

Malignant meningioma, a rare aggressive brain tumor, can recur and grow large. This case highlights the challenges in treating giant, recurrent malignant meningiomas, emphasizing surgical intervention.

Area of Science:

  • Neurosurgery
  • Oncology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Meningiomas are typically benign intracranial tumors, but malignant subtypes present a significant clinical challenge due to high recurrence rates and poor prognosis.
  • Extracranial extension of meningiomas is exceptionally rare, further complicating diagnosis and treatment.

Observation:

  • A 73-year-old female presented with a recurrent giant malignant meningioma of the frontal skull, initially diagnosed and treated 3 years prior.
  • The tumor exhibited aggressive growth, necessitating complex surgical resection and reconstruction involving neurosurgical and plastic surgery collaboration.

Findings:

  • Complete resection of the giant malignant meningioma was achieved, with reconstruction using artificial dura, skull, and a local flap.
  • The patient experienced a good quality of life for one year post-surgery, but ultimately succumbed to tumor recurrence 15 months later after refusing further treatment.

Implications:

  • This case underscores the aggressive nature of malignant meningiomas and the critical role of multidisciplinary surgical approaches for giant, invasive tumors.
  • Despite advancements, the management of recurrent malignant meningiomas remains challenging, highlighting the need for continued research into effective therapeutic strategies.

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