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| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2016 | Volume
: 36
| Issue : 3 | Page : 108-112 |
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Intracranial Atypical Meningiomas: A Case Series
Chi-Man Yip, Shu-Shong Hsu, Wei-Chuan Liao, Jun-Yih Chen, Szu-Hao Liu, Chih-Hao Chen, Chia-Yuan Chang
Department of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC
| Date of Submission | 20-Dec-2015 |
| Date of Decision | 04-Feb-2016 |
| Date of Acceptance | 13-May-2016 |
| Date of Web Publication | 1-Jul-2016 |
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Shu-Shong Hsu
386, Ta-Chung 1st Road, Kaohsiung 813, Taiwan
ROC
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/1011-4564.185215
Background: Atypical meningiomas fall into a category World Health Organization Grade II, which have higher local recurrence rates and lower survival rates than their benign counterparts. The aim of this study is to review the outcome of newly diagnosed patients with atypical meningioma after therapy. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of the medical records of patients having atypical meningiomas who were treated in our hospital between January 2005 and December 2014. Their age, sex, initial presentation, tumor location, tumor size, extent of resection, tumor recurrence or tumor progression, duration of follow-up, adjuvant therapy, and outcome were reviewed. Results: There were 27 consecutive patients (15 male and 12 female) having fresh intracranial atypical meningiomas treated in our hospital between January 2005 and December 2014. Their mean age at diagnosis was 60.81 years. Twenty-three patients (85.19%) underwent total resection of the tumor, whereas 4 patients (14.81%) had partial resection of their tumors during their first time of surgery. Fifteen patients (55.56%) had finished adjuvant radiotherapy. Nine patients (33.33%) had tumor progression or recurrence during follow-up, and 4 of them were proved to have malignant transformation to anaplastic meningiomas in the following operations. The mean time to tumor progression or recurrence of these nine patients was 17.67 months. Nineteen patients (70.37%) had a favorable outcome, 7 patients (25.93%) had an unfavorable outcome, and we lost 1 patient (3.7%) due to disease progression. Conclusions: Surgery remains the standard treatment to atypical meningioma, and postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy is still controversial especially to those who undergo total surgical resection of the tumors. Our study reveals that early postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy seems to play a role in local control. Atypical meningioma can have malignant transformation to anaplastic meningioma, so aggressive treatment and follow-up are essential to manage this particular tumor. Keywords: Atypical meningioma, anaplastic meningioma, local control, malignant transformation, post-operative adjuvant radiotherapy
How to cite this article:
Yip CM, Hsu SS, Liao WC, Chen JY, Liu SH, Chen CH, Chang CY. Intracranial Atypical Meningiomas: A Case Series. J Med Sci 2016;36:108-12 |
| Introduction | |  |
Meningiomas arise from the arachnoid cap cells and account for 13–26% of all primary intracranial tumors.[1],[2],[3],[4] They are histologically classified as benign World Health Organization (WHO) Grade I, atypical (WHO Grade II), and anaplastic (WHO Grade III).[3] Atypical meningiomas and anaplastic meningiomas are aggressive which constitute about 4.7–7.2% and 1.0–2.8% of meningiomas, respectively.[2],[5] In 2000 WHO classification, the pathological criteria for the diagnosis of atypical meningiomas are: ≥4 mitoses/10 HPF or at least three of the following features are present: Sheeting, macronuclei, small cell formation, hypercellularity, foci of spontaneous necrosis;[1],[2],[5],[6] and in 2007, the WHO definition of atypical meningioma added brain invasion as an alternative criterion.[6],[7] Immunohistochemistry plays a role in meningioma variants dominated by unusual features. The most commonly used marker is epithelial membrane antigen, sometimes vimentin staining is also helpful in meningioma diagnosis. However, they are not specific. Another important role for immunohistochemistry in meningioma diagnostics lies in the assessment of the proliferative index, which is usually measured with the antibody MIB-1. Raised MIB-1 labeling indices are associated with increased risk of recurrence. MIB-1 labeling indices above 5% suggest a greater chance of recurrence and can be helpful as an adjunct to grading in borderline atypical cases.[1]
The extent of surgical resection and the aggressiveness of the tumor cells are the key factors to the tumor recurrence.[5],[6],[8],[9],[10] There is no general consensus for the management of atypical meningiomas. Surgery is recognized as the standard and effective treatment to all meningiomas.[2],[9],[10],[11] For anaplastic meningiomas, radiotherapy is considered necessary because of the potential for recurrence and aggressive behavior,[2],[9],[10],[11] but this adjuvant therapy is controversial in the treatment of atypical meningiomas, especially for those who undergo total surgical tumor resection.[5],[6],[10],[11] The objective of this clinical study is to review the outcome of newly diagnosed patients with atypical meningioma after therapy.
| Methods | | |
We conducted a retrospective review of the medical records of patients harboring atypical meningiomas, who were treated in our hospital between January 2005 and December 2014. We excluded those who underwent their first surgery at other hospitals and those who were diagnosed with a malignant transformation from a previously resected benign meningioma (WHO Grade I). Their age at diagnosis, sex, initial clinical presentation, tumor location, tumor size, extent of resection, tumor recurrence or tumor progression, duration of follow-up, adjuvant therapy, and outcome were reviewed and analyzed. The extent of resection was deduced from the operative records. Recurrence or tumor progression was diagnosed if re-growth or tumor enlargement was detected on a follow-up brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), respectively. Progression-free period was determined by calculating the length of time from the end of the first treatment (date of surgery) to the appearance of tumor recurrence or tumor enlargement. We used Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) which is a global scale for functional outcome of the patients having brain damage, and it was initially described in 1975 by Jennett and Bond [Table 1] to score the outcome of our patients.
| Results | | |
There were 27 consecutive patients having fresh intracranial atypical meningiomas treated in our hospital between January 2005 and December 2014. Fifteen of them (55.56%) were male and 12 patients (44.44%) were female with the male to female ratio 1.25:1. Their age at diagnosis ranged from 36-year-old to 80-year-old with a mean age of 60.81 years. Their initial clinical presentations include focal neurological deficits, signs of increased intracranial pressure, neuropsychological decline, seizure, bulging mass on the head, and asymptomatic. The locations of tumors were as follows: Convexity = 9; falcine/parasagittal = 11; sphenoidal ridge = 6; foramen magnum = 1. We had 15 patients whose tumors were ≥5 cm in dimension. These 27 patients had been followed up for 1–84 months (median = 50 months) [Table 2].
Twenty-three patients (85.19%) underwent total resection of the tumor, whereas 4 patients (14.81%) had partial resection of their tumors during their first time of surgery. All patients who had partial tumor resection received postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy after their surgical wounds had been healed. The further treatment modality of those patients having total tumor resection was based on the preference of the surgeons. During follow-up, we arranged regular postoperative brain MRI to all patients. If tumor recurrence or residual tumor with progression had been detected, reoperation followed by postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy was recommended if there was no contraindication. Fifteen patients (55.56%) had finished adjuvant conventionally fractionated radiation therapy, and their radiation dose ranged from 50 to 60 Gy. Of these 15 patients, 7 of them were treated by having total surgical resection of their tumors followed by immediate postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy, and they showed no tumor recurrence during follow-up; four cases underwent partial resection of the tumors followed by immediate postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy; four patients received radiotherapy after tumor recurrence, and all of them had total surgical resection of the tumor in their first operation.
Nine patients (33.33%) had tumor progression or recurrence during follow-up and their progression-free period ranged from 7 to 27 months with an average 17.67 months [Figure 1]. Of these 9 patients, 5 of them underwent total resection of the tumor in their first surgery without immediate postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy; four cases underwent partial resection of tumors with immediate postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy [Table 3]. The tumor locations of these nine patients were as follows: Convexity = 1; falcine/parasagittal = 7; sphenoidal ridge = 1. We notice that falcine/parasagittal atypical meningiomas recur more frequently, probably due to superior sagittal sinus involvement which hinders the absolutely complete removal of the tumor. Four of these nine patients were proved to have malignant transformation to anaplastic meningiomas in the subsequent operations; in this particular group, one patient had expired due to disease progression, two patients were in vegetative state, and only one patient obtained an independent life without significant neurological deficits.
Within these 27 patients, 19 patients (70.37%) had favorable outcome with GOS score 4 or 5, 7 patients (25.93%) had unfavorable outcome with GOS score 2 or 3, and one patient (3.7%) had expired 5 years and 3 months after the diagnosis due to disease progression [Table 3].
| Discussions | | |
Most meningiomas are benign but some of them are aggressive with high recurrence rate as well as increased rate of mortality and atypical meningiomas belong to the aggressive one.[3],[7],[9] In 2000, the WHO classified atypical meningiomas as WHO Grade II.[3] Benign meningiomas are female predominance, but atypical meningiomas seem to be more common in male patient;[2],[5] our series showed the same with male to female ratio 1.25:1. Cerebral convexity is reported to be the common site of atypical meningioma,[2],[11],[12] but we had more at the region of falcine/parasagittal.
Surgical resection remains the standard and effective treatment modality to meningiomas, and the extent of resection plays an important role in the tumor recurrence.[5],[6],[8],[9],[10] Simpson proposed a grading system based on the degree of surgical excision [Table 4]. The recurrence rate at 5 years was 9% for Simpson Grade 1 resection, 19% for Simpson Grade 2 resection, and 29% for Simpson Grade 3 resection.[3],[8] Simpson Grade 1 resection is the ideal goal; however, some tumors cannot be totally excised because their anatomical locations and their close relationship to the surrounding vital neural or vascular structures.[3] In cases of incomplete resection of atypical meningioma, administration of adjuvant radiotherapy is included in the treatment algorithm.[2],[6],[7] However, for those who have undergone complete surgical resection of the atypical meningiomas, postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy is debatable.[5],[6],[10],[11] There are several studies showing the promising results on local control by adjuvant radiotherapy.[12],[13],[14] In our series, we had seven patients having total surgical tumor resection with immediate adjuvant radiotherapy, and none of them demonstrated tumor recurrence during follow-up; 16 patients underwent total surgical tumor resection only at initial presentation, but 5 of them revealed tumor recurrence during follow-up. Because of small case numbers, the data for radiotherapy are difficult to analyze, but it seems that surgery with immediate adjuvant radiotherapy at initial presentation is superior to surgery only in local control. Multicenter, prospective trials are necessary to evaluate the potential impact of radiotherapy on local control and survival in patients with atypical meningioma. Our follow-up period ranged from 1 to 84 months with median 50 months is too short to draw a comment on the long-term value of adjuvant radiotherapy for atypical meningioma, also the possible side effects of radiation such as radiation necrosis, deterioration of neurological function, and induction of further tumors need long-term observation.[12]
In our series, 2 men and 2 women (4 patients, 14.81%) were proved to have malignant transformation to anaplastic meningioma from atypical meningioma during the following operations to their recurrent disease. Their tumors were all located at falcine/parasagittal and were bigger than 5 cm in dimension. The initial treatment modality of these four patients was as follows: One patient underwent partial resection of the tumor with immediate postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy; three patients underwent total tumor resection only. The average time interval between the last surgery to their atypical meningiomas and the first surgery to their malignant transformed anaplastic meningiomas was 14.25 months. Their clinical outcome became poor after malignant transformation to anaplastic meningioma was established, and one of them died 5 years and 3 months after the initial presentation. Malignant progression of recurrent meningiomas has been reported previously.[2],[4],[15]
Computed tomography (CT) and MRI play important roles in the diagnosis of meningioma. Typically, meningiomas are sharply demarcated and hyperdense on CT. On MRI, the tumor is iso- or hypointense on noncontrast T1-weighted image, and iso- or hyperintense on T2-weighted image; homogeneous enhancement is observed after contrast administration. Tomura et al. pointed out that in their study, partial or complete disappearance of the peritumoral band had been seen in a majority of atypical meningiomas; more than half of the atypical meningiomas exhibited lack of dural tail sign and a relatively large amount of perifocal edema.[16] Filippi et al. reported that atypical and malignant meningiomas tend to be markedly hyperintense on diffusion-weighted MR images and exhibit marked decreases in the diffusion constant (Dav) or apparent diffusion coefficient values when compared with normal brain parenchyma.[17] Although atypical meningioma is diagnosed based on the histological criteria, if the radiological characteristics of a meningioma give the possible diagnosis of atypical meningioma before surgery, neurosurgeons should prepare to remove the tumor completely as possible as they can.
Despite advances in imaging, neuropathology, microsurgery, and radiotherapy, meningiomas remain a challenging clinical problem, especially the recurrent disease. Recurrent meningiomas bring the subsequent operations or radiotherapy which may increase the morbidities and worsen the quality of life of patients. Besides this, recurrent meningioma can have malignant biological progression which sometimes is responsible for grave prognosis. In some situations, there are conflicts between the preservation of optimum function and the need to treat the tumors. Understanding the nature of meningioma of different WHO grading, the immediate and delay risks and benefits of surgery and radiotherapy including long-term possible risks of the second neoplasm induced by radiotherapy are crucial for physicians to create individualized treatment strategy for meningioma patients at their initial presentation to achieve the best outcome.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
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[Figure 1]
[Table 1], [Table 2], [Table 3], [Table 4]
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