2024, Volume 17, Issue 7, pp 682 – 689

The impact of arachnoid structures on skull-base meningioma surgical management: a radiological analysis and narrative review

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Authors and Affiliations

Corresponding author Gheorghe Ungureanu Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania Neurosurgery Department, Cluj County Emergency Hospital, Cluj-Napoca, Romania E-mail: ungureanugeorge@gmail.com

Abstract

The presence of intact arachnoid membranes between skull base meningiomas and critical neurovascular structures is crucial for predicting surgical outcomes, understanding tumor development and growth, and planning the feasibility of tumor resection or the need for adjuvant treatments. While neurosurgeons often utilize the subarachnoid cisterns to enhance access to these tumors and facilitate their removal, a comprehensive review aimed at health professionals involved in the diagnosis and treatment of this complex pathology, including radiologists, neurologists, oncologists, ophthalmologists, and neurosurgeons is still lacking. This study aims to summarize the interaction between skull base meningiomas, subarachnoid cisterns, and arachnoid membranes, emphasizing their significance in both the diagnosis and treatment of this pathology. By conducting a thorough radiological assessment of skull base meningiomas, correlating these findings with intraoperative observations, and reviewing relevant literature, we summarize the critical relationship between skull base meningiomas and the surrounding subarachnoid spaces. We concisely describe how arachnoid structures influence tumor growth and interaction with neurovascular elements. We advocate for the inclusion of tumor-arachnoid relationships in the medical literature concerning the treatment of these tumors. A better understanding and description of the interaction between tumors and neurovascular structures will aid in planning and attempting safer treatments, minimizing surgical risks, predicting potential tumor progression, and the need for adjuvant treatments.

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About this article

PMC ID: 11493166
PubMed ID: 
DOI: 10.25122/jml-2024-0349

Article Publishing Date (print): 7 2024
Available Online: 

Journal information

ISSN Printing: 1844-122X
ISSN Online: 1844-3117
Journal Title: Journal of Medicine and Life

Copyright License: Open Access

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited.


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