What is a meningioma?
Meningioma is a non-cancerous tumor that grows on the layers of tissue surrounding your brain and spine, called the meninges. The tumors typically sit in the area between your brain and the inside of your skull, often placing pressure on parts of your brain.
Because of this, many experts classify it as a type of brain tumor. In fact, it’s the most common type of brain tumor that you can get.
Experts don’t know the exact cause of meningioma, but there are a few noteworthy risk factors. Women, patients with obesity, and patients who have previously undergone radiation therapy may be at a higher risk of developing them.
What are the symptoms of meningioma?
Your meningioma doesn’t cause any symptoms by itself, but symptoms can appear as it places pressure on your brain.
The symptoms you have depend on the part of your brain that the tumor is near. Symptoms that may be attributed to a meningioma include:
- Vision changes
- Headaches
- Memory loss
- Loss of your sense of smell
- Limb weakness or numbness
- Seizures
These symptoms are ambiguous and thus need a diagnosis if you have them. If Dr. Glickman thinks you may have a meningioma, he may order an MRI or a CT scan to view your brain.
What are my treatment options for meningioma?
Dr. Glickman assesses your case during your appointment to create your treatment plan. He reviews your meningioma’s size, location, and speed of growth, as well as your overall health and age.
If your meningioma is still small, you may not need to start treatment immediately. You may need to visit Dr. Glickman for a follow-up appointment so that he can monitor its growth.
If your meningioma is growing or showing symptoms, Dr. Glickman may recommend:
Radiation
During radiation therapy, Dr. Glickman aims a precise beam of radiation at your tumor without any pain or incisions. The radiation destroys the tumor in its entirety.
Surgery
Dr. Glickman could recommend surgery to remove a meningioma. Surgery can’t always remove the whole tumor safely, but it can reduce its size and relieve the pressure from your brain.
He may use skull base surgery to remove a tumor from the base of your skull without removing any bone, or he may use traditional brain surgery.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is rarely recommended for meningiomas, but Dr. Glickman may suggest it if surgery and radiation aren’t effective.
If you’re noticing sensory changes, don’t hesitate to call the Center for Neurosurgery Las Vegas or request an appointment online for a meningioma assessment.
