Abstract

Abstract BACKGROUND In Japan in which life expectancy exceeds 85 years old, there are many elderly people who have sufficient healthy life even over 75 years of age and maintain social activities. With the increase in life expectancy and widespread use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), it is estimated that the number of asymptomatic meningioma diagnosed in elderly patients will increase. They are often followed up for the elderly, but they often become symptomatic as the tumor grows. Considering the inherent complications of the elderly and the patient’s life expectancy, it is often difficult to decide whether to operate. Here, we report the results of surgical treatment for intracranial meningiomas in elderly patients growing during follow-up study. MATERIAL AND METHODS Between January 2010 and December 2018, we treated 322 meningioma patients, including 18 patients older than 75 years old who had grown during follow-up. We performed a retrospective analysis of the 18 patients and measured Tumor doubling time (TDT) using CT scan or MRI image. We mainly examined the relationship between TDT and WHO classification, MIB-1 index, edema and calcification, intensity on MRI T2 weighted-imaging. RESULTS 5 were male and 13 were female. There were 6 cases of skull base meningioma and 13 cases in which the tumor showed high intensity on the MRI T2 weighted-imaging. 4 cases showed intratumoral hemorrhage. 8 cases had edema. 11 cases were symptomatic meningiomas and 7 cases were asymptomatic meningiomas. There were 7 cases of WHO grade I meningioma and 11 cases of WHO grade II or III meningiomas. TDT was an average of 1.82 year (0.37–3.74). 9 patients have taken anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication. CONCLUSION In following up elderly meningioma patients, MRI should be performed at periodic intervals if the tumor showed high intensity on the MRI T2 weighted-imaging or had edema. In case of surgical treatment, we should pay attention to taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication, and treatment strategy is needed to avoid complications with sufficiently preoperative examination.

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