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Long-term follow-up after surgical removal of meningioma of the inner third of the sphenoidal wing: outcome determinants and different strategies

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Abstract

Meningioma arising in the inner third of the sphenoidal wing has been well recognized since the origin of neurosurgery, yet it still poses a formidable challenge for the surgeon. Treatment strategies can be optimized through a tailored approach to surgical timing and use of a non-surgical armamentarium. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term effect of different strategies on progression-free survival and overall survival. We examined the clinical records of brain tumor patients to assess determinants for surgery (extent of tumor removal, postoperative complications) and for progression-free survival and overall survival in relation to timing of surgery eventually followed by stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). The records of 60 patients were retrospectively reviewed, from preoperative assessment to a median follow-up of 104 months. All were symptomatic with prevalently visual symptoms (42.2%), large tumors (median diameter 3.44 cm), extension into the cavernous sinus (38.3%), and severe vascular involvement of one or more encased or narrowed vessels (50%). Subtotal removal was achieved in 40% of cases, mainly determined by cavernous sinus and vascular involvement; neurological complications occurred in 18.3% (persistent in 6.7% due to oculomotor and vascular injury). The overall rate of symptom improvement was 32.3% at 3 months and 49.5% at 12 months. Radiological monitoring prevented clinical progression; tumor progression occurred in 11.7% of cases. There were significant differences in progression-free survival between patients with (median 46 months) and those without (median 104 months) recurrence (p = 0.002): 12.5% after total removal, 6.2% after subtotal removal and adjuvant SRS, and 28.5% after subtotal removal and observation. The related Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed no significant difference between the three strategies. Further, disease progression after recurrence was noted in 28.6% of cases, but overall survival was not influenced by either tumor recurrence or type of treatment. Treatment failure was recorded in four cases (6.7%): one perioperative death and three later on. Surgery is the mainstay for the treatment of symptomatic meningioma and to restore neurological function; however, resectability is limited by vascular and cavernous sinus involvement. Careful postoperative monitoring prevented clinical progression and adjuvant or adjunctive SRS proved effective in tumor control. A low surgical complication rate and excellent long-term outcomes were achieved with this strategy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement, Section of Neurosurgery, University of Verona, Verona, Italy

    Andrea Talacchi, Aurel Hasanbelliu, Alberto D’Amico & Nicolò Regge Gianas

  2. Clinical Neurosurgery, University Hospital, Piazzale Stefani 1, 37121, Verona, Italy

    Andrea Talacchi

  3. Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Section of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, University of Verona, Verona, Italy

    Francesca Locatelli

  4. Department of Neuroscience, Neurosurgery Unit, University Hospital, Verona, Italy

    Alberto Pasqualin, Michele Longhi & Antonio Nicolato

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  1. Andrea Talacchi
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Correspondence to Andrea Talacchi.

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• The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

• All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Talacchi, A., Hasanbelliu, A., D’Amico, A. et al. Long-term follow-up after surgical removal of meningioma of the inner third of the sphenoidal wing: outcome determinants and different strategies. Neurosurg Rev 43, 109–117 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10143-018-1018-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10143-018-1018-1

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