A neuro-oncologic challenge: the case of a large, aggressive, malignant meningioma of the skull base with paranasal sinus involvement

Tumori. 2016 Nov 11;102(Suppl. 2). doi: 10.5301/tj.5000442.

Abstract

Background: Malignant meningiomas, rare tumors that account for approximately 1%-3% of all meningioma, have high recurrence, morbidity, and mortality rate and a particularly poor outcome. Surgical excision followed by adjuvant radiotherapy is the current approach for the treatment of these tumors.

Methods: In the case reported, the disease, characterized by a high proliferative index (Ki67 60%-70%), was treated with endoscopic surgery limited to the extracranial portion; then the patient underwent radiotherapy, on the residual tumor volume, to a total dose of 66 Gy delivered in 33 fractions (2 Gy/fraction) by helical intensity-modulated radiation therapy with image-guided radiotherapy daily checks (tomotherapy).

Results: Two and a half years after the treatment, the patient is alive and a partial response is maintained. The patient is healthy overall with grade I fatigue and grade II hearing loss as late toxicity (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events 4.1).

Conclusions: Within a multidisciplinary approach, new radiotherapy techniques confirm their effectiveness and reliability for the treatment of malignant meningioma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Disease Progression
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Meningioma / diagnosis*
  • Meningioma / radiotherapy
  • Meningioma / surgery
  • Meningioma / therapy*
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / surgery
  • Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Skull Base Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Skull Base Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Skull Base Neoplasms / surgery
  • Skull Base Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tumor Burden