Management Of Cavernous Sinus Meningiomas Research Articles

STA-MCA Bypass in Carotid Stenosis after Radiosurgery for Cavernous Sinus Meningioma.

Simple SummaryWe present the case of a patient with a radiation-induced internal carotid artery stenosis after stereotactic radiosurgery for cavernous sinus meningioma. Our case presented with symptomatic vascular insufficiency two years after treatment. We carried out a review of the literature searching for vascular and non-vascular complications following the treatment of cavernous sinus meningiomas with radiosurgery or radiotherapy. As a result, two cases of stroke and one case of asymptomatic stenosis of the internal carotid artery were described, aside from non-vascular complications. We were able to conclude that radiosurgery and radiotherapy carry fewer complications than open surgery, with similar rates of tumor control. Altogether, our case and the associated review emphasize the importance of a multidisciplinary, extended follow-up of irradiated cavernous sinus meningiomas.Background: Cavernous sinus meningiomas (CSM) are mostly non-surgical tumors. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) or radiotherapy (SRT) allow tumor control and improvement of pre-existing cranial nerve (CN) deficits. We report the case of a patient with radiation-induced internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis. We complete the picture with a review of the literature of vascular and non-vascular complications following the treatment of CSMs with SRS or SRT. Methods: After a case description, a systematic literature review is presented, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2015 guidelines. Results: 115 abstracts were screened and 70 titles were retained for full-paper screening. A total of 58 articles did not meet the inclusion criteria. There were 12 articles included in our review, with a follow-up ranging from 33 to 120 months. Two cases of post-SRT ischemic stroke and one case of asymptomatic ICA stenosis were described. Non-vascular complications were reported in all articles. Conclusion: SRS and SRT carry fewer complications than open surgery, with similar rates of tumor control. Our case shows the importance of a follow-up of irradiated CSMs not only by a radio-oncologist, but also by a neurosurgeon, illustrating the importance of multidisciplinary management of CSMs.

The role of endoscopy and radiosurgery in the management of cavernous sinus meningiomas

Cavernous sinus (CS) meningiomas represent a formidable neurosurgical pathology. The desired treatment depends on tumor size and extensions apart from the presenting clinical symptoms of the patient. The last few decades have shown a paradigm shift in the management towards a multimodal treatment. For patients with tumors presenting with a medial extension or when the meningioma occupies the antero-inferior portion of the CS, an endoscopic biopsy can be safely performed through the endonasal route. The boundaries of endoscopic endonasal approaches have been pushed during the last decade, and a direct access to the CS may now be performed. At the same time, an extensive bony decompression to decompress the optic canal and the pituitary gland may be performed. Autologous fat may be interposed between the residual tumor and radiosensitive structures to safely perform adjuvant radiation therapy. The aim of this manuscript is to describe the role of endoscopic surgery in the management of cavernous sinus meningiomas along with the complementary role of radiotherapy. We describe the endoscopic anatomy and the surgical technique to safely perform the procedure and we review the surgical series reported in the literature dealing with the endoscopic approach for CS meningiomas with or without complementary radiation therapy. Endoscopic endonasal approaches have shown promising results in terms of improvement or stabilization of cranial neuropathy and hypopituitarism. Furthermore, the endoscopic approach may enhance the efficacy and safety of stereotactic radiosurgery through the performance of an hypophysopexy and/or chiasmopexy.

Improving Function in Cavernous Sinus Meningiomas: A Modern Treatment Algorithm.

Background: The efficacy and safety of radiosurgery led to paradigm shift in the management of cavernous sinus meningiomas. Nevertheless, patients are still significantly affected by cranial nerve deficits related to the mass effect of these tumors. Our management strategy involves the combination of a functional surgical decompression followed by radiation therapy.Methods: We reviewed a single institution's cohort of patients who underwent endoscopic endonasal decompression (EED) for symptomatic meningiomas primarily involving the cavernous sinus (CS) from 2010 to 2016. The preoperative neuro-ophthalmological exam was compared to the 1- and 6-month postoperative exams. The patient's length of hospital stay, complications, and radiological and clinical follow-up were noted.Results: A total of 17 patients underwent EED for CS meningiomas that fit our radiological criteria. The final outcome at the 6-month visit showed five patients (62.5%) with normalization of deficit and three patients (37.5%) with partial improvement of the CNII deficit. Out of the 12 patients who had cavernous sinus cranial nerves (CSCN) deficits, the final outcome at the 6-month visit showed four patients (33.33%) with normalization of deficit, seven patients (58.3%) with partial improvement, and one patient (8.33%) with no improvement. There were no intraoperative complications.Conclusion: The EED for CS meningiomas is a valuable technique when addressing acute/subacute CNII and CSCN deficits. This conservative surgical approach showed good functional outcomes, low morbidity, and low complication rates. However, it does not exempt the need for radiosurgery/radiation therapy for control of tumor growth.

Multimodality management of cavernous sinus meningiomas with less extensive surgery followed by subsequent irradiation: Implications for an improved toxicity profile

Dr. Omer Sager, Department of Radiation Oncology; University of Health Sciences, Gulhane Medical Faculty, Gn.Tevfik Saglam Cad. 06018, Etlik, Kecioren, Ankara, Turkey, Tel: +90 312 304 4683; Fax: +90 312 304 4680

Outcomes of decompressive surgery for cavernous sinus meningiomas: long-term follow-up in 50 patients.

Cavernous sinus meningiomas are complex tumors that offer a perpetual challenge to skull base surgeons. The senior author has employed a management strategy for these lesions aimed at maximizing tumor control while minimizing neurological morbidity. This approach emphasizes combining "safe" tumor resection and direct decompression of the roof and lateral wall of the cavernous sinus as well as the optic nerve. Here, the authors review their experience with the application of this technique for the management of cavernous sinus meningiomas over the past 15 years. A retrospective analysis was performed for patients with cavernous sinus meningiomas treated over a 15-year period (2002-2017) with this approach. Patient outcomes, including cranial nerve function, tumor control, and surgical complications were recorded. The authors identified 50 patients who underwent subtotal resection via frontotemporal craniotomy concurrently with decompression of the cavernous sinus and ipsilateral optic nerve. Of these, 25 (50%) underwent adjuvant radiation to the remaining tumor within the cavernous sinus. Patients most commonly presented with a cranial nerve (CN) palsy involving CN III-VI (70%), a visual deficit (62%), headaches (52%), or proptosis (44%). Thirty-five patients had cranial nerve deficits preoperatively. In 52% of these cases, the neuropathy improved postoperatively; it remained stable in 46%; and it worsened in only 2%. Similarly, 97% of preoperative visual deficits either improved or were stable postoperatively. Notably, 12 new cranial nerve deficits occurred postoperatively in 10 patients. Of these, half were transient and ultimately resolved. Finally, radiographic recurrence was noted in 5 patients (10%), with a median time to recurrence of 4.6 years. The treatment of cavernous sinus meningiomas using surgical decompression with or without adjuvant radiation is an effective oncological strategy, achieving excellent tumor control rates with low risk of neurological morbidity.

Radiosurgery and fractionated radiotherapy for cavernous sinus meningioma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Radiosurgery (RS) and fractionated radiotherapy (FRT) are part of the therapeutic armamentarium for the management of cavernous sinus meningiomas. We propose a systematic review of the local tumor control and clinical outcomes after monofractionated radiosurgical treatment, including gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) and linear accelerator (Linac RS), or fractionated radiotherapy. The current review and meta-analysis adhered to the PRISMA guidelines. We performed a search in PubMed, Embase, and Medline based on the following mesh terms, used alone or in diverse combinations, in both title and abstract: "cavernous sinus," "meningioma," "radiosurgery," "gamma knife," "linac," "cyberknife," and "radiotherapy". We screened 425 studies. We selected 36 studies, matching all selection criteria: 24 for GK, 5 for Linac, and 7 for FRT. Were included 2817 patients (GKRS, n = 2047, LinacRS, n = 350, FRT, n = 420). Half of patients benefited from upfront RS or FRT; the other half benefited from adjuvant RS or FRT (combined approach or tumor recurrence). The mean gross target volume (GTV) was smaller for RS as compared to FRT (p = 0.07). The median marginal doses were 13.9Gy (range, 11 to 28) for GKRS and 14Gy (range, 12.8 to 17.7) for LinacRS. For FRT, patients received a mean dose of 51.2Gy (25.5 fractions, 1.85Gy each). The mean overall follow-up values were 48months (range, 15 to 89) for GKRS, 69months (range, 46 to 87) for Linac, and 59.5months (range, 33 to 83) for FRT. PFS at 5years for GKRS, LinacRS, and FRT were respectively 93.6%, 95.6%, and 97.4% (p = 0.32, the Kruskal-Wallis). Monofractionated treatments (GKRS and LinacRS) induced more tumor volume regression than FRT (p = 0.001). Tumor recurrence or progression ranged between 3 and 5.8%, without statistically significant differences between modalities (p > 0.05). Trigeminal symptoms improved in approximately 54%, and III-IV-VI cranial nerves (CN) palsies improved in approximately 45%. After GKRS, visual acuity improved in 21% (not enough data available for other modalities). De novo deficits occurred in 5 to 7.5%. Adverse radiation effects appeared in 4.6 to 9.3% (all techniques pooled). RS achieved a twice-higher rate of tumor volume regression than FRT. GKRS series reported an improvement in visual acuity in 21% of the cases. GKRS, Linac, and FRT provided similar clinical post therapeutic outcomes for the trigeminal and oculomotor CN.

Cavernous sinus meningiomas

Introduction: Tumors of the cranial base arising from or partially involving the cavernous sinus have represented a formidable challenge to neurosurgeons. Stereotactic radiosurgery represents an alternative to microsurgery for the management of cavernous sinus meningiomas. The present study aims to evaluate the results of radiosurgery in a large series of patients treated with a linear accelerator with a long-term follow-up. Patients and Methods: From 1993 through 2007, 462 patients with meningiomas underwent radiosurgery at the Chaim Sheba Medical Center LINAC radiosurgery unit. Of those, 117 had tumors involving predominantly the cavernous sinus. A mean follow-up of 67 months was obtained in 102 patients (range:12 to 180 months). Patients’ age ranged from 31 to 86 years (mean 57). Seventy two (70%) were females. Thirty five patients (34.3%) were initially submitted to microsurgery and 67 (65.6%) underwent stereotactic radiosurgery as the first treatment option. Patients were treated using a linear accelerator with cylindrical collimators in 44 patients (43.1%) and a minimultileaf collimator in 58 patients (56.8%). The prescription dose was delivered to the 60 to 80% isodose line (mean, 68%) in patients treated with cylindrical collimators, and to the 80% in those treated with a single conformal isocenter. Doses ranged between 12 and 17.5 Gy (mean, 13.5 Gy). Median tumor volume was 7.2 cm3 (range 0.61–23 cm3). Results: All patients were available for follow-up at 12 to 180 months after treatment (mean, 68 months; median, 60 months). The actuarial control rate was 98%. Fifty nine patients (58%) had a volume reduction and forty one (40%) had stable tumor volumes at the end of follow-up. Two tumors grew. Overall, 4 patients had a new lasting neurological deficit (facial hypesthesia or pain in two, trochlear neuropathy in two, and visual defect in one), for an incidence of 4% in persistent neurological complications. Conclusions: This series of linear accelerator radiosurgery confirms that in the short and long term, radiosurgery affords excellent control for cavernous sinus meningiomas with a very low incidence of complications. Radiosurgery can thus be regarded as the treatment of choice for cavernous sinus meningiomas.

Fractionated Conformal Radiotherapy in the Management of Cavernous Sinus Meningiomas: Long-Term Functional Outcome and Tumor Control at a Single Institution

To evaluate long-term outcome of cavernous sinus meningioma (CSM) treated with fractionated conformal radiotherapy (FCR). Fifty-three patients with CSMs (16 men [30.2%], 37 women [69.8%], aged 53 ± 13.0 years [mean ± SD]) were treated by FCR. In 28 patients (52.8%) FCR was performed as first-line treatment and in 25 patients (47.2%) as adjuvant treatment. All patients received FCR with a dose of 52.9 ± 1.8 Gy in 29.4 ± 1.0 fractions over 6 weeks. Dose per fraction was 1.9 ± 0.1 Gy. Radiotherapy was delivered stereotactically in 47 cases (88.7%) and conformally in 6 (11.3%) The median follow-up was 6.9 years (range, 3-19 years). According to Sekhar's classification, 19 patients (35.8%) were Grade 1-2, 30 patients (56.6%) were Grade 3-4, and 4 patients (7.6%) were Grade 5. Pretreatment tumor volume was determined in 46 patients, and tumor volume was 12.6 ± 8.2 cm(3). In these patients, the distance between tumor and optic apparatus was 1.62 ± 1.2 mm. Actuarial 5- and 10-year progression-free survival rates were 98.1% and 95.8%, respectively. Clinical improvement was observed in 31 patients (58.5%), and 20 patients (37.7%) remained unchanged. Radiologic response was observed in 18 patients (30.2%), and 35 patients (66.0%) showed stable lesions. Two patients (3.8%) showed tumor progression during follow-up. Transient morbidity was observed in 3 patients (5.7%) and permanent morbidity in 1 (1.9%). Fractionated conformal radiotherapy affords satisfactory long-term tumor control and low treatment morbidity.

Role of radiosurgery in the management of cavernous sinus meningiomas.

To provide our early experience and philosophy in the utility of radiosurgery in the management of cavernous sinus meningiomas. Twenty-five consecutive cases with cavernous sinus meningiomas treated between 1990 and 1995 were reviewed. Three cases were treated with gamma-knife radiosurgery, 15 with preceding surgery and gamma knife, 7 with surgery. Mean follow-up following radiosurgery and surgery were 34.8 and 25.4 months, respectively. The 5-year actuarial tumor control rate following radiosurgery was 85.7% and tumor remission rate was 61.4%. Permanent neurological deterioration after radiosurgery was seen in 1 case (5.9%), whereas newly developed or worsened neurological deficits permanently persisted in 59.1% of patients after surgery. There was a clear correlation between surgical radicality and postoperative morbidity rate. Gamma-knife radiosurgery is a valuable addition to surgical removal in the treatment of cavernous sinus meningiomas. Combination of non-radical resection and subsequent radiosurgery is recommended to improve treatment-associated morbidity.

Cavernous Sinus Meningiomas: Surgical Strategies and Outcome in 111 Cases Treated over a Period of 14 Years

Purpose: Cavernous sinus (CS) meningiomas represent particularly challenging lesions for neurosurgeons because of their deep location and strong adhesion to the sinus thus requiring surgical expertise and skills. Despite that, it's usually difficult to achieve a complete removal of these lesions without significant morbidity and/or mortality. We present our experience in the management of this kind of lesion with particular emphasis to surgical and nonsurgical strategies. Method: Meningiomas may arise primarily in the CS or secondarily invade it from the contiguous regions. In a period of 14 years (1992 to 2006) 111 meningiomas of the CS have been surgically treated. Based on the region of main development, meningiomas of our series were classified as purely intracavernous (8), sphenoethmoidal (23), clinoidal (45), sphenopetrous (21), and sphenopetroclival (14). In 17 cases the lesion was a recurrence. Seventy-one lesions were extensive (diameter > 3 cm) and most of the lesions involved more than one area of the CS. Clinical or radiological evidence of disease progression represented the main indication for surgery. All patients underwent complete neuroradiological investigation; in 54 cases an ICA balloon occlusion test was performed. In the early years we took an aggressive approach, accepting the risk of cranial nerves dysfunction or carotid occlusion to achieve gross total removal. After 1997 we adopted a less aggressive approach leaving a minimal intracavernous residual that was later treated by stereotactic radiosurgery. Result: In those patients treated earlier than 1997 a poorer outcome could be observed: grafting was used in 5 cases of damaged oculomotor nerves; short high-flow ICA bypass was performed in 2 cases and prophylactic long high-flow bypass in 1 case. Surgical outcome was better in the second period (1997 to 2006) as a result of a less aggressive technique. Conclusion: Surgical management of CS meningiomas remains difficult and these patients are usually referred to specialized centers. Auxiliary techniques (ultrasonic aspirator, coblation, intraoperative monitoring, etc.) make surgery safer. In our experience the most important way to achieve better results is represented by the choice of the most adequate surgical approach and by the assumption that in some cases a less invasive approach is preferable in order to spare the intracavernous cranial nerves and/or carotid.

Changing treatment strategy of cavernous sinus meningiomas: experience of a single institution

Background Oncological treatment of a neoplasm is more than surgical removal of the tumor. Probably, this truth is the reason for the ongoing discussion on cavernous sinus meningiomas in the last decade. Debate on optimal management of cavernous sinus meningiomas aims to compare the different treatment strategies: ( a) radical surgical resection and ( b) conservative surgical resection complemented with radiosurgical treatment. Materials and Methods Natural history of the change in the management strategy of cavernous sinus meningiomas in our department before and after GK facility became available in 1997 allowed us to compare the 2 aforementioned strategies. Before installation of a Leksell GK unit at the hospital in 1997, the neurosurgical team at Marmara University Institute of Neurological Sciences and Faculty of Medicine (Istanbul, Turkey) treated patients with cavernous sinus meningioma using radical resection (radical strategy, group A, 10 patients). After 1997, the same neurosurgical team used understanding of surgical removal of the extracavernous sinus tumor component with GK irradiation of the intracavernous part (conservative strategy, group B, 12 patients). Another group of patients, who were treated with GK as a first-step treatment, was analyzed (GK group, group C, 26 patients). Results At the end of the third year, more stable tumor volume control was achieved in groups B and C; after the second year, an incline in the tumor volume-time graph was detected. Group B resulted in less cranial nerve–related complications; a certain degree of improvement in cranial nerve deficits was observed. Conclusion Comparing 2 different management strategies for cavernous sinus meningiomas in the same hospital setting using the same neurosurgical group, we conclude that extracavernous resection followed by GK is as effective as radical surgery. Considering cranial nerve complications and third-year tumor volume control achievement, conservative approach yielded better results. Longer follow-up with larger series is necessary.

Respective indications of radiosurgery and microsurgery in the management of cavernous sinus meningiomas

Rationale and purpose: Treatment of cavernous sinus meningiomas (CSM) remains a matter of controversy in the field of skull base neurosurgery. Indeed, biological behavior of CSM is unclearly understood and attempts at radical resection yield high morbidity with questionable long-term results in terms of recurrence. Thereby, evaluation of emerging less-invasive treatments such as gamma knife radiosurgery (GKS) is warranted. Material and methods: Between 1992 and 1998, among 371 skull base meningiomas treated by gamma knife surgery in our institution, 92 patients harbored a benign meningioma primarily involving the cavernous sinus. We focused the present study on the first 80 consecutive patients (63 women, 17 men). Radiosurgery was performed as an alternative to surgical removal in 50 cases (symptomatic or growing tumor) and as an adjuvant to microsurgery in 30 cases with histological confirmation of benignity. Mean patients' age was 49 years (range, 6–71 years) and mean tumor volume was 5.8 cm 3 (range, 0.9–18.6 cm 3). On MR imaging, the tumor was confined in 66 cases (according to Sekhar's classification) and extensive in 14 cases. The average marginal dose was 14 Gy (range 12–19), delivered with an average of eight isocenters (range, 2–18). Patients were evaluated (clinical examination and MR imaging) at 6 months, and 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 years after radiosurgery. Results: The median follow-up period was 40.8 months (mean follow-up: 46.3 months, range, 12–79 months). Tumor stabilization was observed in 51 patients, shrinkage in 25 patients and enlargement in four patients, requiring surgical removal in three cases. The 5-year actuarial progression-free survival was 92.8% and no patient died during the follow-up period. Among the 54 preoperative oculomotor nerve deficits, 15 improved, 8 recovered and 1 worsened. Among the 13 trigeminal neuralgias, one worsened (contemporary with tumor growth), five remained unchanged, four improved and three recovered. One transient and unexpected optic neuropathy was observed at the beginning of our experience. In another case, residual visual acuity present after microsurgery was deliberately sacrificed in order to control a regrowing remnant meningioma invading the optic canal. Another patient presented three temporomesial seizures 18 months after radiosurgery. All cases of tumor regrowth and neurological deficits occurred during our first period of practice in the absence of MRI targetting and without availability of modern dose planning. Conclusion: Insofar as tumor control requires a much longer follow-up, this study demonstrates the very reduced morbidity of GKS for the treatment of CSM and its ability to improve the functional status of patients. Therefore, in our institution GKS is proposed as the initial treatment of confined enclosed CSM, since the tumor is growing. In cases of extensive meningiomas, infiltration of the optic canal or suprasellar extension, we recommend a skull base microsurgical treatment. The treatment strategy remains less clear when both cavernous sinus, superior orbital fissure or far intraorbital extension are observed. In such cases, stereotaxic fractionated radiation therapy could be an alternative.

The role of Gamma Knife radiosurgery in the management of cavernous sinus meningiomas

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of Gamma Knife (GK) radiosurgery in terms of neurologic improvement and tumor growth control (TGC) in a large series of patients with cavernous sinus meningioma (CSM).Methods and Materials: One hundred thirty-eight patients with CSM (28 males, 110 females; mean age: 56.2 years) were treated with GK between February 1993 and February 2001. GK was used as a first-choice treatment in 68/138 patients and as postoperative adjuvant therapy in 70/138. In 32 patients, it was possible to compare the size of the planned treatment volume to tumor volume using the conformity index (CI); optimal CI values were taken to be ≤1.5 (range: 0.94–2.24).Results: A follow-up (FU) period of at least 12 months was available for 111 patients (median: 48.2 months, range: 12.1–84.5 months). Clinical conditions were improved or stable in 107/111 patients (96.5%). Neurologic recovery was observed in 76% of cases treated by GK alone and in 56.5% of adjuvant treatments (p < 0.03). Adequate TGC was documented in 108/111 tumors (97%), with shrinkage/disappearance in 70/111 (63%) and no variation in volume in 38/111 (34%); the overall actuarial progression-free survival rate at 5 years was 96%. Tumor size regression was observed in 79.5% of patients with FU >30 months, compared with 47.5% of patients with FU <30 months (p < 0.001). One hundred percent TGC was shown in treated patients with a CI ≤1.5 (20/32), compared with 92% TGC in cases with a CI >1.5 (p < 0.15, NS). Radiosurgical sequelae were transient in 4/111 cases (3.5%) and permanent in one case (1%).Conclusions: For the FU period of our series (median: >4 years), GK radiosurgery seems to be both safe (permanent morbidity 1%) and effective (96% neurologic improvement/stability, 97% overall TGC, 96% actuarial TGC at 5 years) and might be considered as a first-choice treatment for selected patients with CSM.

Gamma knife radiosurgery in the management of cavernous sinus meningiomas

Object. The authors sought to assess the functional tolerance and tumor control rate of cavernous sinus meningiomas treated by gamma knife radiosurgery (GKS). Methods. Between July 1992 and October 1998, 92 patients harboring benign cavernous sinus meningiomas underwent GKS. The present study is concerned with the first 80 consecutive patients (63 women and 17 men). Gamma knife radiosurgery was performed as an alternative to surgical removal in 50 cases and as an adjuvant to microsurgery in 30 cases. The mean patient age was 49 years (range 6–71 years). The mean tumor volume was 5.8 cm3 (range 0.9–18.6 cm3). On magnetic resonance (MR) imaging the tumor was confined in 66 cases and extensive in 14 cases. The mean prescription dose was 28 Gy (range 12–50 Gy), delivered with an average of eight isocenters (range two–18). The median peripheral isodose was 50% (range 30–70%). Patients were evaluated at 6 months, and at 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 years after GKS. The median follow-up period was 30.5 months (range 12–79 months). Tumor stabilization after GKS was noted in 51 patients, tumor shrinkage in 25 patients, and enlargement in four patients requiring surgical removal in two cases. The 5-year actuarial progression-free survival was 92.8%. No new oculomotor deficit was observed. Among the 54 patients with oculomotor nerve deficits, 15 improved, eight recovered, and one worsened. Among the 13 patients with trigeminal neuralgia, one worsened (contemporary of tumor growing), five remained unchanged, four improved, and three recovered. In a patient with a remnant surrounding the optic nerve and preoperative low vision (3/10) the decision was to treat the lesion and deliberately sacrifice the residual visual acuity. Only one transient unexpected optic neuropathy has been observed. One case of delayed intracavernous carotid artery occlusion occurred 3 months after GKS, without permanent deficit. Another patient presented with partial complex seizures 18 months after GKS. All cases of tumor growth and neurological deficits observed after GKS occurred before the use of GammaPlan. Since the initiation of systematic use of stereotactic MR imaging and computer-assisted modern dose planning, no more side effects or cases of tumor growth have occurred. Conclusions. Gamma knife radiosurgery was found to be an effective low morbidity—related tool for the treatment of cavernous sinus meningioma. In a significant number of patients, oculomotor functional restoration was observed. The treatment appears to be an alternative to surgical removal of confined enclosed cavernous sinus meningioma and should be proposed as an adjuvant to surgery in case of extensive meningiomas.

Invasion of the internal carotid artery by cavernous sinus meningiomas

BACKGROUND Meningiomas are the most common tumor involving the cavernous sinus. Although these tumors have been known to invade adjacent structures such as bone, soft tissue, and brain, invasion of the internal carotid artery (ICA) by meningiomas has only been recognized recently. The authors evaluate the extent of carotid wall involvement in nine patients with cavernous sinus meningiomas encasing the ICA who underwent en bloc resection of the cavernous sinus. METHODS The en bloc tumor-ICA specimens were fixed in formalin, embedded in paraffin, and sectioned on a rotary microtome. Hematoxylin and eosin, EVG, and HVG stains were performed and evaluated by light microscopy. RESULTS There were four males and five females with a mean age of 47 years. Eight patients had not undergone previous surgery, whereas one patient had been operated on before. In this latter case, however, the cavernous sinus was not entered during the first operation. In all patients, stenosis of the ICA was confirmed by preoperative angiography and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In seven cases, the tumors were excised en bloc along with the stenotic ICA segment. A petrous-to-supraclinoid ICA bypass was performed in these seven patients. In two cases, the tumor was excised with the stenotic artery, but no bypass was performed. The final pathological diagnosis was meningothelial meningioma. In all cases tumor cells were found in the adventitia of the cavernous carotid with stenosis of the arterial lumen. Compression and/or obliteration of the vasa vasorum within the adventia was noted in all specimens. In four cases, the tumor was found to have invaded the external elastic lamina. In two instances the external elastic lamina was disrupted and the tumor focally extended into the media. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that in the case of cavernous sinus meningiomas with encasement and stenosis of the intracavernous ICA, invasion of the vessel wall has occurred. The effect of these findings on the management of cavernous sinus meningiomas and the involved ICA is discussed.