Giant posterior fossa meningioma: the importance of early diagnosis and challenges concerning treatment

Abstract

Posterior fossa lesions may present with behavioural changes and/or progressive neurological deficit. Patients may have symptoms for long periods which may be attributed to other causes such as psychiatric diseases. We report a case of a 44-year-old woman with behavioural changes lasting for 5 years who lost her job, marriage and the guard of her sons. Latterly, she developed neurological deficit, hydrocephalus and intracranial hypertension. A giant left pontocerebellar angle mass was diagnosed. A retrosigmoid craniotomy was performed with total removal and cranial nerve function's preservation. Histology revealed a grade I meningioma. The surgical approach for such huge lesions on pontocerebellar angle is controversial concerning patient's positioning and surgical route. A brief revision is made. Since nowadays medical imaging is more easily accessible, it is mandatory to have a brain image in patients with behavioural changes and/or neurological deficit to exclude potential structural and curable causes such as in this case.

Keywords: CNS cancer; neuroimaging; neurooncology; neurosurgery; screening (oncology).