Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 3, 2026
Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas
Published on: January 17, 2018
Long-Term Outcomes of Pediatric Meningioma Surgery: Single Center Experience with 23 Patients
Ilkay Isikay1, Sahin Hanalioglu, Firat Narin
1Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Ankara, Turkey.
Insights
Pediatric meningiomas are surgically treatable with good outcomes, but relapses are common. Long-term surveillance and aggressive treatment are crucial for managing these pediatric brain tumors.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric neurosurgery
- Pediatric oncology
- Brain tumor research
Background:
- Meningiomas are rare in children, and their long-term outcomes and prognostic factors require further investigation.
- This study evaluates a single-institution surgical cohort of pediatric meningiomas.
Observation:
- The study included 23 pediatric patients (aged <18 years) with 27 meningiomas.
- Tumor locations varied, with convexity and parasagittal/falcine being most common.
- High-grade meningiomas (WHO grades II and III) constituted 44% of cases.
Findings:
- Gross total resection was achieved in 70.4% of patients.
- The 10-year overall survival rate was 86%, with 76.2% experiencing a favorable outcome.
- Low histological grade and gross total resection were associated with favorable outcomes (p=0.030 and p=0.024, respectively).
- Relapse occurred in 43.5% of patients, highlighting the need for vigilant follow-up.
Implications:
- Pediatric meningiomas are surgically manageable, but long-term surveillance is essential due to common relapses.
- Aggressive treatment strategies may be necessary for optimal patient outcomes.
- Further research into prognostic variables can refine treatment protocols for pediatric meningiomas.
Aim:
To evaluate the long-term outcomes and prognostic variables in a surgical cohort of pediatric meningiomas treated in a single institution.
Material And Methods:
Medical records and follow-up notes of 23 pediatric patients aged < 18 years (12 male and 11 female; mean age on presentation, 13.1 ± 4.4 years) harboring 27 meningiomas operated between 1994 and 01/2019 at Hacettepe University Ihsan Dogramaci Children’s Hospital were evaluated.
Results:
One patient had neurofibromatosis (NF) type 1, and five patients had NF2. Tumors were most commonly located in the convexity (n=6) and parasagittal or falcine (n=6). Gross total resection was performed in 70.4% of cases. WHO grade I tumors accounted for 56% of all cases, whereas high-grade meningiomas accounted for 44% (33% grade II, 11% grade III). The mean follow-up duration was 10.3 ± 7.7 years. Three patients (13%) died during follow-up, and 76.2% of the patients had favorable outcome (Glasgow Outcome Scale > 3) during the last follow-up assessment. Ten patients (43.5%) had relapse. In univariate analysis, low histological grade (p=0.030) and gross total resection (p=0.024) were associated with favorable outcome. The 10-year overall survival rate was 86%.
Conclusion:
Meningiomas in the pediatric age group are surgically treatable tumors with fairly good outcomes. However, relapses are common even for low-grade tumors; therefore, long-term surveillance and aggressive treatment are needed.
