Aim of the study: Intraventricular meningiomas (IVMs) are rare tumours accounting for 0.5-3.0% of all meningiomas. IVMs require different surgical approaches and preparation in deep brain areas. The aim of our study was to present the clinico- -histopathological characteristics and treatment outcomes of trigone IVMs in a series of 15 patients.
Materials and methods: Eight women and seven men (mean age 52) with 15 trigone IVMs were retrospectively analysed. Patients presented with headache (47%), psychoorganic syndrome (40%), hemianopsia (33%) or paresis (20%), including three (20%) patients with Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) < 80. Mean tumour size was 55.2 mm (range: 30-100 mm).
Results: Gross total tumour resection was performed in 14 (93%) cases, and subtotal in one (7%). A new deficit appeared in 83% (5/6) following a transparietal approach, in 14% (1/7) following a transtemporal approach, and in none of two patients following a transoccipital approach. Postoperative complications occurred in six (40%) patients; no patient died, but in two (13%) the new deficit was permanent. Tumour re-growth was found in two (13%) patients after 14 and 31 months. Meningiomas of WHO grade I occurred in 12, grade II in three, and grade III in one tumour recurrence. In long-term follow-up (mean: 60.8 months), including the results of revision operations, KPS: 80-100 was in 13 (87%) patients, KPS: 50 in one (severe hemiparesis after revision) and one patient was lost to follow-up (KPS: 100 on discharge).
Conclusions: 20% of IVMs in our series were atypical. The results of surgery for IVMs, although satisfactory in general, require further improvement by reducing the rate of focal deficits resulting from a surgical approach.
Keywords: Intraventricular meningioma; morbidity; surgical approach; tumour recurrence.