Abstract
PurposeThe patients’ burden with asymptomatic meningiomas and patients with good clinical outcome after meningioma resection often remains neglected. In this study, we aimed to investigate the longitudinal changes of psychological distress and quality of life in these patient groups.MethodsPatients with conservatively managed (CM) or operated (OM) meningiomas and excellent neurological status, who were screened for psychological distress during the follow-up visit (t1), were included. We performed a follow-up mail/telephone-based survey 3–6 months (t2) after t1. Distress was measured using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Distress Thermometer (DT), 36-item Short Form (SF-36), and Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI).ResultsSixty-two patients participated in t1 and 47 in t2. The number of patients reporting increased or borderline values remained high 3 months after initial presentation, with n = 25 (53%) of patients reporting increased anxiety symptom severity and n = 29 (62%) reporting increased depressive symptom severity values. The proportion of distressed patients according to a DT score remained similar after 3 months. Forty-four percent of patients reported significant distress in OM and 33% in CM group. The most common problems among distressed patients were fatigue (t2 75%) and worries (t2 50%), followed by pain, sleep disturbances, sadness, and nervousness. Tumor progress was associated with increased depression scores (OR 6.3 (1.1–36.7)).ConclusionThe level of psychological distress in asymptomatic meningiomas and postoperative meningiomas with excellent outcome is high. Further investigations are needed to identify and counsel the patients at risk.
Highlights
Meningiomas are common slow-growing benign lesions that originate from arachnoidal cap cells [17]
In our previous cross-sectional study, we found that the psychological burden in conservatively managed (CM) and operatively managed (OM) meningioma patients is very high [12]
We found a significant correlation between mental component summary (MCS) and Distress Thermometer (DT) score at 3 months (Spearman’s rho − 0.48, p = 0.001); there was no correlation between MCS and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)-A or HADS-D
Summary
Meningiomas are common slow-growing benign lesions that originate from arachnoidal cap cells [17]. This article is part of the Topical Collection on Tumor Meningioma. As these lesions are usually small and do not compress surrounding structures, a common strategy recommended to the patient is wait and see. With increasing availability of cranial imaging across the globe, the number of patients diagnosed with meningioma as accidental finding is rising as well. Despite favorable prognosis for such tumors, the patient is confronted with a diagnosis of a brain tumor. This might have severe implications on the psychological burden and the quality of life, regardless of the tumor etiology [13]
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