Computed tomography of sphenoid wing meningiomas: tumor location related to distal edema

A review of the computed tomography and clinical characteristics of a series of sphenoid wing meningiomas revealed a high incidence of edema involving the ipsilateral cerebral hemisphere. This edema frequently accounted for the clinical presentation indicating the non-localizing insidious nature of these tumors. The etiology of the edema appears to be related in parts to the location of tumor in the middle cranial fossa and its proximity to the major venous pathways of this area.