Neurosurgical treatment of meningiomas in children and young adults.

OBJECT: We studied the frequency, functional outcome, association with neurofibromatosis (NF) and relapse in patients operated on for meningiomas at age 0-20 years in three Norwegian centers between 1972 and 1999.

METHODS

Information was collected by examining case notes and histology records, conducting telephone interviews and performing new radiological investigations. Twenty-seven patients were identified. Five had NF, and all 5 developed multiple tumors. In non-NF patients, relapse occurred in 2 out of 19 who underwent total tumor resection, and in all 3 whose surgery was non-radical. There was 1 postsurgical death, and no other major complications. Most patients had few complaints or none at all resulting from their previous tumor or treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Meningiomas without NF have a good prognosis in children and young adults if the tumor can be removed radically. However, relapse can occur many years after the primary operation.