How is a meningioma treated?
Disease description:
I just went for a checkup and found out I have a meningioma. I've been feeling really unwell and am very anxious about it. Therefore, I would like to ask the doctor how a meningioma is treated?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Lv Zhiqin
Common treatment methods for meningiomas include the following:
1. Surgical treatment: Surgical resection is the preferred treatment method for meningiomas, especially for most benign tumors, which can often be cured after complete surgical removal. Meningiomas located on the surface of the meninges or superficially are relatively easier to remove surgically, with a good prognosis. However, it is important to protect the surrounding neural structures and major blood vessels to avoid nerve damage.
2. Radiation therapy: For skull base tumors smaller than 3 cm, meningiomas that cannot be completely removed, and residual tumors after surgery, radiation therapy such as gamma knife or cyber knife may be considered to control tumor growth. Postoperative radiotherapy is also an important treatment method for malignant meningiomas.
3. Interventional embolization therapy: This primarily involves blocking the arteries supplying the tumor using physical or chemical methods to reduce its blood supply, thereby slowing tumor growth. However, this method is mainly applicable to meningiomas predominantly supplied by the external carotid artery.
4. Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy has limited effectiveness in treating meningiomas and is mainly used as adjuvant therapy for malignant meningiomas, such as meningiomasarcoma.
