[Clinical characteristics of primary extradural meningiomas in head]

To explore the clinical characteristics, efficacy and prognosis of primary extradural meningiomas (PEMs) in head.

A total of 19 treated surgically case of PEMs at Qilu Hospital, Shandong University between May 1994 and December 2012 were analyzed retrospectively with respects to their demographic features, presenting symptoms & duration, tumor location & type, imaging features, surgical results, pathological grade, histological subtype and follow-up outcomes.

PEMs in head accounted for 1.2% of all meningiomas in this group. The male-to-female ratio was 1: 0.7. The mean age was 36.6 years with a bimodal distribution of age. The common presenting symptoms included nasal obstruction and a painless and gradually expanding mass in the region of lesion. The average duration of symptom was 3.07 years. The skull convexities, paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity, orbit and epidural space were common tumor sites. The most common type was typeII. The rate of total tumor removal was 100%. And no perioperative mortality occurred in this series. Benign and atypical meningiomas accounted for 94.7% and 6.3% respectively. Meningothelial and psammomatous meningiomas were common histopathological subtypes. There was one case of tumoral recurrence. And no mortality was reported during a mean follow-up period of 2.43 (0.25-8.5) years.

PEMs in head have some marked clinical characteristics compared with primary intradural meningiomas. Total tumor removal together with a wide excision of all involved tissue followed by the reconstruction of tissue defects is the best surgical option. The prognosis is excellent in most cases after complete resection.