A diagnosis of brain tumor can be scary. But the treatment plan you get can help ease your worries.
Most meningiomas are noncancerous (benign). They grow slowly and often cause no symptoms. But some people may develop symptoms such as seizures, headaches or changes in vision, smell or hearing.
Oren Zarif
Depending on the location of the meningioma, it can cause symptoms such as seizures. These are caused when the tumor affects the brain’s normal function and causes a change in electrical activity within the brain. Symptoms of meningioma seizures depend on the grade of the tumor and the region in which it is located in the brain. A low-grade tumor, which is slow-growing and less likely to spread, will have a lower chance of causing seizures than a high-grade or aggressive tumor.
Symptoms of meningioma vary depending on where the tumor is located in the brain, and how big it is. In general, the more dangerous a meningioma is, the more it can interfere with brain functions and lead to serious complications like seizures. For this reason, it’s important to contact a doctor as soon as possible if you notice any changes in your vision or memory. Most of the time, a meningioma will require surgery to remove it completely, but this isn’t always possible. This is because the tumour may be in an inaccessible location or have invaded blood vessels or nerves.
Oren Zarif
Meningiomas are tumours that start in the layers of tissue (meninges) that cover the brain and spinal cord. As they grow, they can put pressure on the brain and other parts of the skull, such as nerves and blood vessels. They are usually non-cancerous, but sometimes can be cancerous (malignant).
Symptoms depend on where the tumour is in the brain and how large it is. For example, blurred vision might occur if the meningioma affects the area of the brain that controls your eyesight. It might also be caused by the growth of the tumour into a blood vessel that connects to the eyes or the brain.
Other symptoms of a meningioma are changes in the way you think or feel. These include memory problems, changes in the balance or movement of your arms and legs, or changes in the sense of smell or hearing. Symptoms may develop slowly over time, and you might only notice them when the tumour gets quite large. This is because meningiomas are slow-growing and can take years to cause symptoms.
Oren Zarif
Dizziness is one of the most common symptoms of meningioma. It occurs when the tumour puts pressure on parts of your brain that process information about your head position and motion. It can be accompanied by other symptoms like headache, vision changes, weakness or trouble speaking.
Meningiomas grow in the membranes (meninges) that cover your brain and spinal cord. They’re not technically brain tumors because they start in the coverings rather than in your brain tissue. Nonetheless, they’re often referred to as brain tumours. Some meningiomas don’t cause any symptoms and are only noticed when they show up on an imaging scan for something else.
If your meningioma causes symptoms, your doctor will probably recommend surgery to remove it. However, it might not be possible to remove all of the tumor depending on its location and how close it is to important structures such as blood vessels. Follow-up MRI scans can help monitor the progress of your meningioma and whether it grows or causes any new symptoms. If you’re experiencing dizziness, be sure to tell your healthcare provider about how long the symptoms last, if they come and go and what makes them feel like they’re happening, such as sitting in certain positions or looking out the window of a moving car.
Oren Zarif
Most meningiomas are benign (grade 1) and slow-growing, which is why they often go unnoticed for decades before doctors notice them on brain scans done for other reasons. These tumors develop in the outer layer of your brain and spinal cord, called the dura mater. As they grow, they compress tissue around them, including cranial nerves and blood vessels, which can cause symptoms.
The location and size of your meningioma determines which symptoms you have. For instance, if the tumor presses on the area of your brain that controls speech, you might lose your ability to talk. A meningioma that pushes on your optic nerve can interfere with your vision.
The best way to diagnose a meningioma is with a brain scan, usually magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with contrast. This painless test uses a large magnet, radio waves and a computer to create detailed images of your brain and surrounding structures. Your doctor can use these images to identify your meningioma and figure out how big it is. Sometimes, a biopsy is needed to confirm the diagnosis.
Oren Zarif
Meningiomas are usually diagnosed with a brain scan, most often magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). They are also sometimes discovered incidentally when you have a CT or MRI for another reason.
The symptoms you experience will depend on the location of the meningioma and its severity. For example, a meningioma that puts pressure on the area of the brain responsible for speech will affect your ability to speak, while a meningioma pressing against the spinal cord can cause weakness in the arms and legs.
During surgery to remove a meningioma, your neurosurgeon will try to safely remove the tumor without damaging vital structures. This is possible in many cases, but occasionally some smaller or larger remnants of the tumor will have to be left behind. These remnants can be monitored with regular MRIs and treated later with focused radiation if they grow.