Radiation-induced cerebral meningioma: a recognizable entity

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Oncology
• Radiation Oncology

Background:

• Intracranial meningiomas are tumors arising from the meninges.
• Previous scalp irradiation, often for tinea capitis, has been anecdotally linked to meningioma development.
• Understanding the characteristics of radiation-induced meningiomas is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the clinical and histopathological differences between intracranial meningiomas in patients with and without prior scalp irradiation.
• To determine if radiation-induced meningiomas represent a distinct nosological subgroup.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of clinical and histopathological data.
• Comparison of 201 patients with intracranial meningiomas operated on between 1978 and 1982.
• Stratification of patients into irradiated (n=43) and non-irradiated (n=158) groups based on prior scalp radiation history.

Main Results:

• Forty-three patients (21.4%) had received prior scalp radiation, primarily for tinea capitis.
• Distinct clinical and histological features were observed in the irradiated group compared to the non-irradiated group.
• These findings suggest radiation-induced meningiomas may constitute a separate subgroup.

Conclusions:

• Radiation exposure to the scalp, particularly in childhood for tinea capitis, is associated with a significantly increased incidence of intracranial meningiomas.
• Radiation-induced meningiomas exhibit unique characteristics that support their classification as a distinct nosological entity.
• The widespread use of pediatric scalp irradiation prior to griseofulvin availability may have contributed to a higher burden of these tumors.