MENINGIOMAS OF THE ANTERIOR CRANIAL FOSSA FLOOR - REVIEW OF 67 CASES

The authors report 67 cases of meningioma of the anterior cranial foss a floor treated surgically between 1978 and 1992. The olfactory groove and tuberculum sellae were the most frequent locations. Mean duration of the clinical history was 30 months. Seventy-three per cent of the tumours were large (> 4 cm). All patients were examined with computed tomography and 18 with magnetic resonance imaging as well. Complete re moval was performed in 56 cases (84%); in the remaining 11 (16%), part ial removal was performed because of encasement of the carotid artery, cavernous sinus, or optic nerves by the tumour. Mortality was 9%. Res ults at follow-up of the 61 survivors were good in 56 (84%), fair in f our (6%), and poor in one (1%). The clinical results were correlated t o tumour location and dimension. After review of the literature, the m anagement of these difficult tumours and the preferred surgical techni que are discussed. The authors stress the importance of early diagnosi s for improving the surgical results.