Asterion meningiomas

Asterion meningiomas arise from the posterior petrous ridge at the junction of the transverse and sigmoid sinuses (sinodural angle). The authors retro spectively reviewed the charts of seven patients with asterion meningiomas who underwent a Simpson I tumor resection by either the petrosal or subocci pital approach. Patients presented with headaches, dizziness, ataxia, or se izures. Preoperative angiograms and intraoperative observations confirmed o cclusion of the transverse and sigmoid sinuses and the sinuses were ligated without adverse sequelae. Temporal bone invasion was seen in one patient w ho had the only tumor recurrence. Postoperatively, there were two transient CSF leaks. Asterion meningiomas can be completely resected with a low inci dence of major morbidity. In this small series, a patent transverse/sigmoid sinus was resected in three patients without sequelae. We believe that in young patients with asterion meningiomas a nondominant transverse/sigmoid s inus should be resected if the torcula is patent. More research is needed t o determine the safety of resecting a patent dominant transverse/sigmoid si nus.