Abstract
Although meningioma is the most frequently diagnosed intracranial tumor and accounts for approximately one-third of cases of all tumors of the central nervous system, knowledge concerning the natural course of meningioma remains scarce. Surgery is usually considered to be essential for symptomatic types of meningiomas. However, for asymptomatic types of meningiomas, the use of surgical treatment is controversial. Certain factors such as patient age, ADL, tumor size, and tumor location can be used to determine whether surgery is needed. At Kumamoto University, we analyzed approximately 600 cases of asymptomatic meningioma and found that 37% of the patients with meningioma did not experience any symptoms or adverse events when they were followed for more than 5 years. In addition, only 16% of the patients with asymptomatic meningiomas developed symptoms during the follow-up period. We should understand that there are many patients with asymptomatic meningioma who do not necessarily need surgery. Furthermore, for some patients with asymptomatic meningioma, observation and follow-up by magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography may be the best strategy for treatment.
