The importance of microsurgery in childhood meningioma: a case report

• Published in: Child's nervous system Vol. 31; no. 1; pp. 161 - 165
• Main Authors: Kwee, L. E., van Veelen-Vincent, M. L. C., Michiels, E. M. C., Kros, J. M., Dammers, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-01-2015
• Subjects: Case Report; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Meningeal Neoplasms - surgery; Meningioma - surgery; Microsurgery - methods; Neurosciences; Neurosurgery; Microsurgery; Case report; Recurrent; Pediatric; Meningioma
• ISSN: 0256-7040; 1433-0350
• DOI: 10.1007/s00381-014-2490-8

Introduction
Although meningiomas are frequently diagnosed in adults, it is a rare (intracranial) tumor in the pediatric population, with an incidence of 0.06/100,000. The pathology and treatment of meningiomas in adulthood has been a topic of increasing investigation. So far, the treatment of pediatric meningiomas has been extrapolated from these results. The question remains, however, whether translation of adult meningioma data into the childhood population is legitimate.
Methods
We present the case of a 3-year-old girl diagnosed with an intraventricular malignant meningioma and type 2 neurofibromatosis. She was operated on multiple times to achieve complete resection and received adjuvant chemotherapy. Since, she has been stable with no neurological sequelae and/or recurrence of the meningioma.
Conclusion
Pediatric meningiomas are rare tumors and differ from their adult counterparts in various aspects. We believe that gross total resection of meningioma in the pediatric population, when possible, is the treatment of choice. In the event of a subtotal resection, repeat resection is recommended. Any adjuvant treatment with chemotherapy or radiation therapy should be carefully considered during multidisciplinary meetings.