Meningioma of the Skull Base
What is a meningioma?
A meningioma is usually a noncancerous, slow-growing tumor that develops from the covering the brain or spinal cord (meninges).
Why is it a concern?
Some meningiomas do not cause any symptoms, and are only discovered on imaging studies performed for other reasons. Other meningiomas can cause neurologic symptoms, depending on their size and location. A few examples include seizure, headache, weakness, numbness, vision changes, hearing loss, discoordination, voice changes, or swallowing difficulty.
How is it treated?
Treatment for meningiomas depend on a patient's overall health, the size and location of the tumor, and its growth pattern over time. At Stanford Medicine, we use state-of-the art approaches for both surgical and non-surgical options and involve a team of multidisciplinary specialists. Some meningiomas are managed with active surveillance, where repeated MRIs are used to monitor the tumor. Other patients require microsurgery, radiation, medication, or a combination thereof.