Cerebellopontine angle meningioma

J.Sales-Llopis; P. González-López; G.Pancucci; P.Méndez-Román

Neurosurgery Department, University General Hospital of Alicante, Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencian Region (FISABIO), Alicante, Spain

• A systematic review on the role of the endoscope in the surgical management of cerebellopontine angle tumors: is it time to draw the conclusion?
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• Cerebellopontine angle metastasis from pancreatic cancer: a case report
• Clinical outcomes of the neuroendoscopic far lateral supracerebellar infratentorial approach for resection of deep brain lesions
• Correction to "Facial variant of epicrania fugax secondary to a cerebellopontine angle meningioma"
• Surgical outcome of cerebellopontine angle meningiomas via a retrosigmoid approach: A single-center experience in Vietnam
• Radiological Response Assessment of Intracranial Meningioma after Cyberknife Stereotactic Radiosurgery
• Hybrid nerve sheath tumor of the spinal canal and neurofibromatosis-2, where the twain shall meet-a case report and review of literature

The meningioma of the cerebellopontine angle may arise from any area of the dura on the posterior surface of the petrous bone (see Posterior petrous bone meningioma), or originate at the level of the internal auditory canal (IAC), and may be mistaken for vestibular schwannoma.

Among intracranial meningiomas, 5%–10% are located in the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) ^{1) 2)}, thus comprising the second most common tumors in this anatomic region.

They usually occur in patients in the fifth decade of life, with a female predominance- Pathologically, 80–90% of these tumors are benign (WHO Grade I) and the majority are the meningothelial subtype.

Consistent with these observations, in 193 patients, the mean age was 50.2 years and most patients were female (n = 154). The majority (94.8%, 183/193) of the tumors were grade I and the most common pathological subtype was meningothelial (31.6%, 61/193) ³⁾.

Cerebellopontine Angle Meningioma Classification.

The clinical presentation and outcome after surgical resection are different because of the diversity of this tumor entity.

The most common symptoms at the time of the initial evaluation were from the eighth cranial nerve (unilateral hearing loss–24 patients, vertigo or imbalance–19 patients, tinnitus–11 patients), and the fifth cranial nerve (altered sensation–9 patients, facial pain–5 patients). On examination, the most common findings were absent caloric response (19 patients), nystagmus (16 patients), diminished facial sensation (14 patients), ataxia (13 patients), reduced hearing (9 patients), and facial weakness (9 patients). There was often a long interval from the onset of symptoms to the correct diagnosis of a tumor ⁴⁾.

Epicrania fugax ⁵⁾

The MRI scan usually defines those tumors that arise posterior to the internal auditory meatus but will not distinguish the first three categories. The diagnosis of meningioma is indicated by the flat surface of the tumor against the petrous bone and the durat “tail” extending from the tumor.

Postoperative

In the past it was often utilized angiography when a cerebellopontine angle meningioma was suspected. However, for most of these meningiomas it is now not necessary, because the MRI usually gives all the information needed and in most patients the blood supply comes primarily through the dural attachment.

Cerebellopontine angle meningioma differential diagnosis.

Embolization has not been a consideration.

In patients with mild or minimal symptoms, an initial period of clinical evaluation and repeat scans may be indicated to determine whether there are progressive symptoms and an enlarging tumor. This is especially true in the elderly.

The indications for operation are a worsening neurological deficit due to brainstem compression or cranial nerve compression. In a few patients headache or the continued presence of a stable deficit such as diplopia or hearing loss may be the indication. In the series of the MGH Harvard two patients were asymptomatic. One had documented enlargement on follow-up scans and the other was concerned about the presence of the tumor. Radiation therapy has been used when there is regrowth after subtotal or radical subtotal removal and with small tumors which start to enlarge in older patients who are being observed ⁶⁾.

see Retrosigmoid approach for cerebellopontine angle meningioma.

see Fully endoscopic resection of cerebellopontine angle meningioma.

The location of a CPA meningioma affects clinical outcome.

Patients with CPA meningiomas with IAC involvement often present with hearing loss and abnormal facial motor function. Resection of these tumors is compatible with hearing restoration.

Nonetheless, the anatomical location and intimate relationship between meningiomas involving the IAC and the cranial nerves are such that skilled surgical management is needed. Despite advances in neurosurgery, the surgical procedure for CPA meningiomas involving the IAC remains challenging.

The pre- and postoperative MR images of 193 consecutive patients with pathologically diagnosed meningioma centered around the IAC were analyzed, focusing on changes in the IAC, maximal axial tumor volume, peritumoral brain edema, and postoperative residual tumor. Patient age, sex, tumor volume, postoperative residual tumor, and pathological subtype were compared in patients with and without IAC involvement by the tumor and among the different types of IAC involvement. The results showed that the 71 patients (36.8%) with IAC involvement had a higher ratio of peritumoral edema (χ2=5.922, P=0.015), postoperative residual tumor (χ2=22.183, P< 0.001), and a predominance of the meningothelial subtype (χ2=5.89, P=0 .015). Peritumoral edema was a risk factor for IAC involvement (P=0.016, OR=2.186). Radiologically, IAC involvement could be distinguished as intruding (31%, 22/71), filled (29.6%, 21/71), and dilated (39.4%, 28/71). Patients with intruding IAC were significantly older (54.5±9.54 years, P=0.021) and had the lowest postoperative residual tumor values (42%, χ2=7.865, P= 0.005), while those with filled IAC were more likely to be female (95%, χ2=9.404, P=0.009).The observations provide the basis for a morphological classification of IAC involvement by CPA meningiomas and further insight into the clinical features of these tumors ⁷⁾.

Among 421 patients, the charts of 347 patients with complete clinical data, including the history and audiograms, imaging studies, surgical records, discharge letters, histological records, and follow-up records, were reviewed retrospectively. Data about preoperative and postoperative facial nerve function were available in 334 patients, and audiometric analysis was conducted in 333 patients. Patients with neurofibromatosis Type 2 were excluded from the study.

There were 270 women and 77 men, with a mean age of 53.4 years (range, 17.6-84 yr). Among these patients, 32.9% of the tumors originated at the petrous ridge anterior to the inner auditory canal (IAC) (Group 1), 22.2% showed involvement of the IAC (Group 2), 20.2% were located superior to the IAC (Group 3), 11.8% were inferior to the IAC (Group 4), and 12.9% were posterior to the IAC, originating between the IAC and the sigmoid sinus (Group 5). Patients presented with disturbance of Cranial Nerves V-VIII, the lower cranial nerves, and ataxia, depending on the main tumor location. Tumor resection was performed through a suboccipital-retrosigmoidal approach in the semisitting position in 95% of the patients. A combined supratentorial-infratentorial presigmoidal approach was performed in 5%. Total tumor removal (Simpson Grade 1 and 2) was achieved in 85.9% and subtotal removal in 14.1%. The best initial postoperative facial and auditory nerve function was observed in tumors belonging to Groups 3 and 5. Recovery from preoperative deafness was observed in 1.8% of patients. On long-term follow-up, good facial nerve function (House-Brackmann Grade 1 or 2) was observed in 88.9% of patients. Hearing preservation among patients with preoperative functional hearing was documented in 90.8% on long-term follow-up.

Although the outcome of facial and cochlear nerve function is different in CPA meningiomas, depending on the topographic classification of these tumors, preservation of the cochlear nerve is possible in every tumor group and should be attempted in every patient with CPA meningioma. It has to be kept in mind that recovery of hearing was also observed in patients with preoperative profound hearing deficits ⁸⁾.

There were 57 patients with cerebellopontine angle meningiomas, 37 women and 20 men, ranging in age from 38 to 89 years, with 10 over 70 years of age (Table 17.16). In the 42 patients listed in Table 17.16, Anterior, the tumor arose anterior to the internal auditory meatus in 27 and anterior-inferior in 10 and grew diffusely in five. The extent of the tumor removal is recorded in Table 17.16. In only 14 patients could I be sure of a total removal but in another 10 a radical subtotal removal was done. On follow-up, 34 of the 42 patients had a good result, three had a fair result because of postoperative disability, four had poor results because of severe preoperative neurological disabilities that did not significantly improve, and there was one postoperative death. This ocurred in a 89-year-old man who had been well until he started to develop worsening ataxia. CT showed a 4-cm tumor with hydrocephalus. A shunt was placed, with improvement, but several months later symptoms of brainstem compression worsened. A subtotal removal was done but the patient died of a cardiopulmonary complication.

None of the patients with radical subtotal removal has shown recurrence and all have been followed by scans. Most of the patients with subtotal removal had large tumors (>3 cm). Three were growing anteriorly intothe middle fossa. After subtotal removal, 15 of 18 had follow-up scans, which showed no growth in eight, slight growth in five (three of whom have been given radiation therapy and two of whom are being observed after showing no further growth on subsequent scans), and moderate growth in two of the disabled patients, where nothing further has been done.

Postoperative complications included permanent increased ataxia in three, one of whom had to have a cerebellar infarction removed, one patient with wound infection and meningitis, and one with a Cerebrospinal fluid fistula requiring repair. Several patients had temporary increases in ataxia, incoordination, or swallowing problems which improved. Four patients had a shunt for hydrocephalus at some time in their course.

Of the 15 patients with meningiomas arising posterior to the internal auditory meatus, 13 had a total removal (Table 17.16). One had a radical subtotal and one a subtotal removal because of involvement of the lower cranial nerves. All had a good result. There were no postoperative neurological complications and no recurrences.

Yasargil et al. reported that 27 of 30 patients had a good result and in 27 the tumor was “radically excised.”

Sekhar and Jannetta reported total removal in 14 of 22 patients, with no operative mortality and a good outcome in 16.

Samii and Ammirati reported total removal of all 24 tumors located posterior to the internal auditory meatus, with a good outcome for 22 patients. Of 32 patients with tumors anterior to the internal auditory meatus, 29 had the tumors totally removed and 28 had a good outcome.

Retrospectively review in 40 patients the commmon clinical presentations were hearing loss, unsteadiness, and dysequilibrium. Findings upon physical examination included hearing loss (73%), cerebellar signs (32%), trigeminal neuropathy (16%), and facial nerve dysfunction (16%). The most common site of dural origin was the petrous ridge (anterior to the IAC [26%], posterior [21%], superior [18%], and inferior [16%]). Less common sites of dural origin included the tentorium (31%), the clivus (15%), the IAC (10%), and the jugular foramen (8%). Site of dural origin determined the direction of displacement of the facial/vestibulocochlear nerve bundle. The most common microsurgical complication was facial nerve dysfunction (30%). Gross total resection was achieved in 82% of cases, whereas 18% underwent subtotal resection. Two patients died. Follow-up ranged from three months to 13 years with three recurrences ⁹⁾.

20 patients who underwent removal of a meningioma were compared to those in 131 patients who had an acoustic neurinoma removed during the same period. They found that in patients with meningiomas the tumors frequently are large at presentation, the otologic symptoms and audiometric findings are less dramatic, and roentgenograms of the skull and tomograms of the petrous apex rarely show erosion of the internal auditory canal. Computerized tomography is the most useful method for differentiating a meningioma from a neurinoma: when a meningioma is present the characteristic finding is a broad-based mass aligned with the petrous ridge, not centered over the internal auditory canal ¹⁰⁾.

32 patients with surgically confirmed CPA meningiomas are analyzed. The most common symptoms at the time of the initial evaluation were from the eighth cranial nerve (unilateral hearing loss–24 patients, vertigo or imbalance–19 patients, tinnitus–11 patients), and the fifth cranial nerve (altered sensation–9 patients, facial pain–5 patients). On examination, the most common findings were absent caloric response (19 patients), nystagmus (16 patients), diminished facial sensation (14 patients), ataxia (13 patients), reduced hearing (9 patients), and facial weakness (9 patients). There was often a long interval from the onset of symptoms to the correct diagnosis of a tumor. Brain stem auditory evoked potentials, blink reflex testing, posterior fossa myelography, computerized tomographic scanning, and angiography were abnormal in all patients in whom the test was done, but all tests were not performed on all patients. Computerized tomographic scanning and angiography are important for definitive diagnosis and for planning surgical treatment. The histopathology of the temporal bone was studied in three patients with meningiomas in the region of the internal auditory meatus ¹¹⁾.

Entezami et al., describe the case of a 49-year-old male with a recurrent right CPA meningioma arising from the petrous bone that was previously treated with a subtotal resection and postsurgical radiosurgery, presenting with acute left-sided hemiparesis secondary to intratumoral hemorrhage. Although surgical evacuation and decompression was recommended, the patient declined operative intervention and was managed medically.

Meningiomas can cause subarachnoid, intraparenchymal, and rarely intratumoral hemorrhage. Symptomatic hemorrhage can worsen the prognosis, with increased morbidity and mortality. Several etiologies have been proposed for this phenomenon, including rupture of aberrant vasculature, intratumoral necrosis, and tearing of stretched bringing veins.

Only two prior cases of CPA meningioma have been reported in the literature. Recognition of CPA meningioma hemorrhage as a clinical entity can help in future diagnoses and management ¹²⁾.