Visual Outcomes in Spheno-Orbital Meningioma: A 10-Year Experience

Spheno-orbital meningiomas (SOMs) present distinct surgical challenges because they involve important neurovascular structures, such as the orbit, cavernous sinus, superior orbital fissure, and optic canal. Resection thus focuses on maximum safe resection while preserving these neurovascular structures. Our objective was to describe our method of surgical management of SOMs and summarize visual outcomes.

A retrospective chart review was performed to identify patients who underwent surgery for SOM in 2011-2021. Demographics, preoperative visual summary, operative details, visual outcomes, and recurrence data were collected.

The 33 patients (10 male, 23 female) had a mean age of 56 years (range 27-74 years). The mean tumor volume was 39 mL (range 4.7-220 mL). The mean follow-up period was 18 months (range 1-120 months). Thirty-two patients had preoperative radiographic evidence of proptosis (based on exophthalmos index), 23 (70%) presented with diminished visual acuity, and 10 (30%) had a concomitant visual field deficit. At last postoperative follow-up, vision was stable for 25 patients (83.3%), improved for 1 (3.3%), and worsened for 3 (10%; 2 occurring after tumor recurrence beyond 2 years). Proptosis was stable or improved in all patients. One patient had an enucleated eye. A total of 7 patients (21%) had recurrence of the tumor at 19-72 months from the operation.

In this study, maximum safe resection, including periorbital resection, provided adequate visual and cosmetic outcomes, as well as reasonable tumor control in the long term. Rigid orbital reconstruction was not required to prevent pulsatile enophthalmos.