Multimodality Treatment for Skull Base Meningioma and Consideration of Future Possibilities

Abstract

  Skull base meningioma is characterized as a deep-seated compression of the cranial nerves and vessels, with brainstem edema in some cases. Appropriate techniques such as surgical resection, stereotactic radiosurgery/radiotherapy (SRS/SRT), or multimodality treatment combined with resection and radiation should be considered for skull base meningioma. Total resection is the gold standard treatment; however, precise SRS/SRT treatment is appropriate for aged patients when surgical resection of the tumor is contraindicated. Subtotal resection followed by SRS/SRT is also an useful strategy. Boron neutron capture therapy and particle therapy are new treatments that may become available in the near future.