The effect of the revised WHO classification on the incidence of grade II meningioma

Abstract

Introduction: A retrospective study over a three-year period at University Hospital of Wales (UHW) of the incidence of atypical cranial grade II meningioma both pre and post 2016 revision of The World Health Organisation (WHO) classification of tumours of the central nervous system.Subjects: All available histology from January 2015 to December 2017 of patients with cranial meningiomas.Method: Institutional online reporting system Welsh Clinical Portal to identify patients and view histology reports.Results: Overall 164 patient histology results were analysed (median age 59, age range 23-82, 74% females). There were 55 patients in 2015: 69.1% grade I, 29.1% grade II and 1.8% grade III. There were 109 patients in 2016/17; 68.8% grade I, 29.4% grade II, 1.8% grade III.Discussion: There is significant variability in the reported incidence of grade II meningioma, likely due to variation in local interpretation of diagnostic criteria. Neuropathologists at our institution have reported brain invasion as grade II prior to 2016. This was due to compelling published evidence that brain invasive meningiomas have recurrence and mortality rates similar to that of grade II meningioma as defined using other criteria. The new 2016 WHO criteria now recognise this specifically. As other institutions adapt to the amended 2016 guidelines we anticipate that there will be a greater consensus in line with our incidence rates of grade II meningioma.