We analyzed 38 patients with 39 meningiomas verified pathologically. The study included 27 females and 11 males. The ages of the patients on admission ranged from 11 to 77 years (averaged 47.6 years). The incidence of brain edema associated with meningiomas was 69%. The extent of peritumoral edema on the CT scans positively related to the duration of preoperative symptoms, the location and size of tumors, and breaching of the cortex by meningiomas. The meningotheliomatous meningiomas were frequently associated with significant brain edema. The ultrastructural features showed some relationship between increased secretory activity and the extent of peritumoral edema.