Successful treatment of anaplastic meningioma metastatic to cervical lymph nodes

Abstract

Cervical lymph node metastases of meningioma represent an important diagnostic and treatment challenge. Not only has this entity been rarely described, but successful treatment has never been reported in the literature. This case report was conducted using reviews of the literature. A 58-year-old man with a history of resected anaplastic meningioma was referred for a right neck mass. Excisional biopsy revealed metastatic meningioma, and a metastatic workup was negative. Modified radical neck dissection showed positivity in 5 lymph nodes. The patient received adjuvant intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), for a mean target dose of 60 Gray (Gy). Two years after treatment, the patient was disease free. Eleven cases of cervical lymph node metastasis of meningioma were identified in our literature search, and none described successful treatment of this entity. Cervical lymph node metastasis of anaplastic meningioma is potentially treatable with surgical resection and IMRT, although further studies with long-term follow-up are necessary.