Investigation of Clinical, Surgical, and Histopathological Findings of Pediatric Intracranial Meningiomas: A Single-Center Study.

Abstract

Aim: To report a series of pediatric intracranial meningiomas operated in a single institution, and to compare their features with the literature.

Material and methods: Using our hospital?s automation system, patients under the age of 18 who had been operated in the last 11 years were identified. Data from these patients were collected and compared with the literature.

Results: The mean age was 7.9 years old. Of the 10 patients, 8 (80%) were males, 2 were females (20%). The most common symptoms were cranial nerve palsies. When all MR and CT images were evaluated, peritumoral oedema was observed in 6 of the patients (60%), dural tail in 7 patients (70%), bone destruction in 3 patients (30%), and intratumoral calcification in 2 patients (20%). Histopathological diagnosis was made according to the World Health Organisation classification (2021) into grades 1, 2, and 3. Three patients (30%) had a typical meningioma (grade 1), and 7 patients (70%) had an atypical type (grade 2). Recurrence occurred in one of four patients with residual tumours.

Conclusion: Subtle and careful surgical approaches are the main treatment option and postoperative prognosis for pediatric meningiomas. Contrary to previous studies, the association of meningiomas with radiation exposure and NF was not common in our series. Further research is needed to understand the reasons for the differences between the pathophysiology of pediatric meningiomas and the adult form to ensure successful treatment.