Comprehensive analysis of meningioma in the first two decades of life: A systematic review

Neurochirurgie. 2020 Feb;66(1):36-40. doi: 10.1016/j.neuchi.2019.10.007. Epub 2019 Dec 3.

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the relationship between meningioma histological subtype and tumor site in under-20 year-olds.

Methods: A review of the literature on meningioma during the first 2 decades of life was carried out through a Medline search up to February 2019. To evaluate the adult population, a cross-sectional study was conducted on patients operated on between 2000 and 2014 in a single institution. Exclusion criteria comprised: series reports and papers that lacked detailed description of clinical findings, neuroimaging confirmation of tumor location, and/or at least 5 years' follow-up.

Results: One hundred and seven manuscripts were included, for 365 under-20 year-old patients: 200 male, and 164 female. Histopathology found 197 cases (53.9%) of WHO grade I meningioma, with predominance of meningothelial (41.1%) and transitional (30.9%) subtypes; 123 (33.7%) grade II, and 45 (12.3%) grade III. For 65 (18.25%) of the 356 cases, recurrence was documented, with only 24 deaths (6.7%).

Conclusion: Meningioma in this population presented 2 differences compared to the adult population: male predominance, and high incidence of atypical meningioma. Surgery was the primary treatment. Adjuvant radiotherapy is controversial in the literature.

Keywords: Histopathology; Juvenile population; Meningioma subtype.

Publication types

  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Infant
  • Meningioma / mortality
  • Meningioma / pathology*
  • Meningioma / surgery*
  • Neurosurgical Procedures / methods*
  • Spinal Neoplasms / mortality
  • Spinal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Spinal Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Young Adult