Symptoms and treatment of Meningioma

Description

A meningioma is a tumor that grows from the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord, called the meninges. A meningioma is not a brain tumor, but they may press on the nearby brain, nerves, and blood vessels. Meningioma is the most common type of tumor that forms in the head.

Most meningiomas grow very slowly. Can grow over many years without causing symptoms. But sometimes, their effects on nearby brain tissue, nerves or blood vessels can cause serious disability.

Meningiomas occur more often in women. They are often found at older ages. But they may occur at any age.

Because the majority of meningiomas are slow-growing, often without symptoms, you don't always need treatment right away. Instead, they can be observed over time.

Symptoms

Symptoms of a meningioma, most often starts slowly. It can be hard to see at first. The symptoms may depend on where in the brain the meningioma is. On rare occasions, can be in the spine.

Symptoms may include:

Changes in vision, such as double or blurred vision.
Head pain that is worse in the morning.
Hearing loss or ringing in the ears.
The loss of memory.
Loss of sense of smell.
Seizures.
Weakness in the arms or legs.
Difficulty speaking.

When to see a doctor

Most of the symptoms of a meningioma appear slowly. But sometimes a meningioma needs immediate medical attention.

Seek emergency medical attention if you have:

Sudden onset of convulsions.
Sudden changes in vision, or memory.

Make an appointment to see your health care professional if you have lasting symptoms that are cause for concern, such as headaches that get worse with time.

Often, due to meningiomas do not cause any symptoms prior notice, which is found only from imaging scans done for other reasons.

Causes

It is not clear what causes a meningioma. Experts know that something has changed some cells in the meninges. The changes are done by multiply out of control. This leads to a meningioma.

Being exposed to radiation as a child is the only environmental risk factor for the obtaining of meningioma. There is No good evidence to show that meningiomas occur because of the use of cell phones.

Risk factors

The risk factors for meningioma include:

The radiation treatment. The radiation therapy that involves the head may increase the risk of meningioma.
The female hormones. Meningiomas are more common in women. This could mean that hormones may play a role. Some studies have also suggested a link between breast cancer and meningioma risk associated with the role of hormones. Some research suggests that the use of oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy may increase the risk of meningioma growth.
A hereditary disease of the nervous system condition. The rare condition neurofibromatosis type 2 increases the risk of meningiomas and other brain tumors.
Obesity. A high body mass index (BMI) is a risk factor for many types of cancer. Several studies have found that meningiomas occur more often in obese people. But the link between obesity and meningiomas is not clear.

Complications

A meningioma and its treatment can cause long-term complications. The treatment most often involves surgery and radiation therapy. Complications can include:

Difficulty focusing.
The loss of memory.
Changes in personality.
Seizures.
The weakness.
Changes in the senses.
Problems with language.

Your health care professional may treat some complications, and consult experts to help you deal with other complications.

Diagnosis

A meningioma can be difficult to diagnose because the tumor is often slow growing. Symptoms of a meningioma may also be subtle and thought to be other health conditions or signs of aging.

If your healthcare provider suspects a meningioma, you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in conditions of the brain and spine, called a neurologist.

To diagnose a meningioma, a neurologist conducted a thorough neurological examination, followed by a test image with contrast medium, such as:

CTscan. CT scans take X-rays to make cross-sectional images of a complete picture of the brain. Sometimes an iodine-based dye is used to make the image easier to read.
MRIscan. With this imaging study, a magnetic field and radio waves to create cross-sectional images of the structures in the brain. MRI scans provide a more detailed image of the brain and meningiomas.

Sometimes, a sample of the tumor is sent to a laboratory for study, called a biopsy may be needed to rule out other types of tumors, and to confirm a diagnosis of meningioma.

Treatment

The treatment for a meningioma depends on many factors, including:

The size of the meningioma and where it is.
The rate of growth of the tumor.
Your age and general health.
Your goals for the treatment.

Wait-and-see approach

Not everyone with a meningioma needs immediate treatment. A small, slow-growing meningioma that is not causing symptoms may not need treatment.

If the plan is that you don't have the treatment of a meningioma, it is likely that the brain scans sometimes to evaluate your meningioma and look for signs that it is growing.

If your doctor considers that the meningioma is growing and needs to be treated, you have several treatment options.

Surgery

If the meningioma of the causes of the symptoms or shows signs of growing, your healthcare provider may suggest surgery.

The surgeons work to remove all of the meningioma. But due to a meningioma can be near to the fragile structures in the brain or in the spinal cord, it is not always possible to remove all of the tumor. Then, the surgeons remove as much of the meningioma as you can.

The type of treatment if you need it after the surgery depends on several factors.

If there is no visible tumor remains, then no further treatment may be necessary. But you will have follow-up scans once in a while.
If the tumor is benign and only a small piece remains, then your health care professional may suggest follow-up scans only. Some small remains of the tumors can be treated with a form of radiation therapy called stereotactic radiosurgery.
If the tumor is irregular or cancer, you will likely need radiation.

The surgery can present risks, including infection and bleeding. The risks of the surgery will depend on the place where your meningioma is. For example, surgery to remove a meningioma of all of the optic nerve can lead to loss of vision. Ask your surgeon about the risks of the surgery.

Radiation therapy

If all of the meningioma can't be surgically removed, your health care professional may suggest radiation therapy after or in place of surgery.

The goal of radiation therapy is to destroy any meningioma cells that are to the left and reduce the possibility that the meningioma can return. Radiation therapy uses a large machine to the target of high-power beams of energy in the cells of the tumor.

Advances in radiation therapy increase the radiation dose to the meningioma, while giving less radiation to healthy tissues. Radiation therapy types for meningiomas are:

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). This type of radiation treatment aims to several beams of the powerful radiation at a precise point. Despite its name, radiosurgery does not involve scalpels or cuts. Radiosurgery is most frequently performed on an outpatient basis in a couple of hours. Radiosurgery may be an option for people with meningiomas that cannot be removed with conventional surgery, or for meningiomas that come back, despite treatment.
Fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT). This type gives radiation in small amounts over time, such as a one day treatment for 30 days. This approach can be used for tumors too large for radiosurgery or those who are in an area where the radiosurgery is too strong, as close to the optic nerve.
Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). This uses a computer program to lower the intensity of the radiation to the meningioma site. This can be used for meningiomas that are close to sensitive structures of the brain or those with a complex shape.
Proton beam radiation. This uses radioactive protons directed to the right in the tumor. This type reduces the damage to the tissue surrounding the tumor.

Medications

Medicine therapy, also called chemo, is rarely used for the treatment of meningiomas. But it can be used when the meningioma does not respond to surgery and radiation.

There is not a widely used chemotherapy approach for the treatment of meningiomas. But researchers are studying other specific approaches.

Alternative medicine

Alternative medicine treatments do not treat meningioma. But some can help to give relief from the side effects of the treatment. Or they may help you cope with the stress of a meningioma.

Alternative medicine therapies that may be useful include:

Acupuncture.
Hypnosis.
The massage.
Meditation.
Music therapy.
The relaxation exercises.

Discuss the options with their healthcare professional.

Coping and support

A meningioma diagnosis can alter his life. You have visits to doctors and surgeons as you prepare for your treatment. To help deal with the situation, try the following:

Learn all you can about the meningiomas.Ask your health care team where you can learn more about the meningiomas and their treatment options. Visit your local library and ask a librarian to help you find good sources of information, including online resources. Write down your questions to ask at your next appointment with your health care professional. The more you know about your condition, the better able you'll be to decide about your treatment.
Build a network of support.It can help to have someone to talk to about your feelings. Other people who can support you, which include social workers, and psychologists. Ask your provider reference. Talk with your pastor, rabbi or other spiritual leader. It can also help to talk to other people with meningiomas. Think about joining a support group, either in person or online. Ask your health care team about brain tumor or meningioma support groups in your area. Or in contact with the American Brain Tumor Association.
Take care of yourself.Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Get moderate exercise a day, if your health care professional OKs it. Get enough sleep to feel rested. Reduce the stress in your life. Focus on what matters to you. These measures will not cure your meningioma. But they can help you feel better as you recover from surgery or to help you cope during radiation therapy.

Learn all you can about the meningiomas. Ask your health care team where you can learn more about the meningiomas and their treatment options. Visit your local library and ask a librarian to help you find good sources of information, including online resources.

Write down your questions to ask at your next appointment with your health care professional. The more you know about your condition, the better able you'll be to decide about your treatment.

Build a network of support. It can help to have someone to talk to about your feelings. Other people who can support you, which include social workers, and psychologists. Ask your provider reference. Talk with your pastor, rabbi or other spiritual leader.

It can also help to talk to other people with meningiomas. Think about joining a support group, either in person or online. Ask your health care team about brain tumor or meningioma support groups in your area. Or in contact with the American Brain Tumor Association.

Take care of yourself. Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Get moderate exercise a day, if your health care professional OKs it. Get enough sleep to feel rested.

Reduce the stress in your life. Focus on what matters to you. These measures will not cure your meningioma. But they can help you feel better as you recover from surgery or to help you cope during radiation therapy.

Preparing for your appointment

You can start by seeing your primary health care provider. From there, you may be referred to specialists who treat disorders of the brain, called neurologists and neurosurgeons.

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. When you make your appointment, be sure to ask if there is anything that you need to do in advance, such as restrict your diet.
Write down your symptoms, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment, and when they began.
Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
Make a list of all medications, vitamins or supplements that you take, including over-dose.
Have a family member or friend along, if possible. Someone who goes with you can help you remember the information that is obtained.
Write questions to ask their health professional.

Prepare a list of questions will help you make the most of your time. For a meningioma, some basic questions to ask include:

It is my meningioma cancerous?
How big is my meningioma?
It is my meningioma grow? How fast?
What treatment do you suggest?
I need treatment now? Or is it better to wait and see?
What are the possible complications of each treatment?
There are long-term complications should I be aware of?
Should I seek a second opinion? Can you suggest a specialist or hospital that has experience in the treatment of meningiomas?
Are there brochures or other printed material I can have? What websites do you suggest?
What I need to decide on treatment right away? How long can I expect?

Be sure to ask all the questions that you have.