| Treatment of Meningiomas in India at the finest | | | | patients for many years suggest that as many as |
| cancer hospitals is a team process. Specialists from | | | | two-thirds will not have symptoms over time. If the |
| the brain cancer treatment team work together to | | | | tumor is pressing on surrounding tissue, with or |
| provide the high-quality, integrated care for which | | | | without symptoms, the treatment of choice is usually |
| India is known. Generally, a neurologist who has | | | | to surgically remove the tumor (resection).Several |
| expertise and additional training in neuro-oncology will | | | | treatment options are available to reduce or remove |
| coordinate the care team. In addition, the | | | | the tumor. |
| neuro-oncologist will counsel the patient about | | | | Surgery: Surgery is usually the first approach. Because |
| neurological issues and accordingly the treatment of | | | | Meningiomas tend to have well-defined edges and do |
| Meningiomas in India is planned. | | | | not invade the brain, complete removal is sometimes |
| What is Meningiomas? | | | | possible. The standard treatment is to remove the |
| Meningiomas are rarely malignant in their behavior. But | | | | tumor, the portion of the lining of the brain or spinal |
| when malignant, meningiomas grow rapidly and are | | | | cord where it is attached and any bone involved. |
| destructive; they are quite difficult to treat and recur | | | | However, many tumors are at the base of the brain |
| often within less than a year after surgical removal. | | | | near cranial nerves and blood vessels. Surgery to |
| Meningiomas commonly are found at the surface of | | | | remove these tumors is more complicated because |
| the brain, either over the convexity or at the skull | | | | of the risk of damaging the nerves and blood vessels. |
| base. In rare cases, meningiomas occur in an | | | | Complete surgical removal is sometimes not possible. |
| intraventricular or intraosseous location. The problem | | | | Neurosurgeons are skilled and experienced in the use |
| of classifying meningioma is that arachnoidal cells may | | | | of computer-assisted brain surgery, which allows |
| express both mesenchymal and epithelial | | | | surgeons to precisely map the brain and more |
| characteristics. Other mesodermal structures also | | | | accurately and aggressively treat brain tumors. Even |
| may give rise to similar tumors (e.g., | | | | with removal, Meningiomas are not always cured. |
| hemangiopericytomas or sarcomas). The classification | | | | After what appears to be total removal of the |
| of all of these tumors together is controversial. The | | | | tumor, the recurrence rate varies from 10 to 20 |
| current trend is to separate unequivocal meningiomas | | | | percent (measured over 10 years). When the entire |
| from other less well-defined neoplasms. | | | | tumor is not removed, the recurrence rate is higher. |
| Signs and symptoms of Meningiomas | | | | For patients with large meningiomas at the base of |
| For Meningiomas, the clinical symptoms are usually | | | | the skull, radiosurgery can be part of a staged |
| dependent on the anatomic site involved, but many | | | | approach with neurosurgery. For example, a large |
| are found incidentally. Most meningiomas are slow | | | | part of the tumor can be removed using |
| growing and cause signs and symptoms by | | | | neurosurgery without affecting the part of the tumor |
| compression of nearby structures. The three most | | | | that involves the cranial nerves or blood vessels. |
| common symptoms are headaches, mental status | | | | Radiosurgery can then be performed for the small |
| changes and paresis, and the most common signs are | | | | remaining tumor with less risk of damaging cranial |
| paresis, normal examinations and memory impairment. | | | | nerves. |
| For Meningiomas, the most common signs and | | | | Chemotherapy and Other Drug Therapy: |
| symptoms are seizures and headache. The lower | | | | Chemotherapy has not been shown to be effective |
| grade glial tumors have a more indolent course that | | | | for Meningiomas. However, in instances where |
| may persist over years, whereas the most | | | | surgery and further radiation are no longer feasible or |
| aggressive tumors (e.g., anaplastic oligodendrogliomas, | | | | safe, Mayo physicians may recommend possible |
| anaplastic astrocytomas, glioblastoma multiforme) | | | | chemotherapy options. |
| may have a rapid onset of neurologic decline. Patients | | | | Further Inpatient Care |
| may, however, present with signs and symptoms of | | | | - Before or after surgery, patients with skull-base |
| increased intracranial pressure, including nausea, | | | | Meningiomas may have numerous disabilities, such as |
| vomiting, headache, and confusion. | | | | diplopia, dysphasia, dysphagia or motor weakness. |
| Treatment Options for Meningiomas | | | | - These problems should be managed with a |
| Many patients with Meningioma have no symptoms. | | | | multidisciplinary approach (e.g., occupational therapy, |
| For these patients, carefully watching the tumor is | | | | physiotherapy, speech therapy). |
| often appropriate. Evidence from studies which track | | | | |