Meningiomas involving the parasellar region.

The authors report on 180 cases of meningiomas involving the parasellar region, which have been surgically treated between 1978 and 1993. Most of the tumors originated in the middle cranial fossa (66%). Half of the patients had visual deficits, and palsy of the eye movements was observed in 25% of the cases. Depending on the tumor origin and extension, the surgical approach was chosen. Total tumor resection varied very much, depending mostly on the tumor extension, and the pattern of growth. The overall total resection (Simpson I-II) was 57%. The postoperative results were good in 77% of the cases, and surgical mortality was 3%.