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.