Effects of surgery on cognitive functioning of elderly patients with intracranial meningioma

Few data are available concerning the outcome of surgical removal of intrac ranial meningioma in elderly patients. Surgical criteria and prognostic fac tors are considerations in the decision as to whether neurosurgical removal should be attempted in elderly patients. The present study appears to be t he first to examine the cognitive functioning of patients (n = 33) with int racranial meningiomas in the seventh and eighth decades of life prior to an d following surgery. The time period between pre- and postoperative assessm ent was between 12 and 23 weeks. Twenty healthy subjects were also examined . For neuropsychological assessment, standardized test procedures including the examination of memory, attention, visuoconstructive abilities and exec utive functions were used. No significant deterioration of cognitive functi oning was found following surgery. Elderly patients should not therefore be denied meningioma surgery purely on the basis of the risk of postoperative deterioration of mental functioning.