Fourth ventricle meningiomas: a rare entity

Br J Neurosurg. 2011 Aug;25(4):454-8. doi: 10.3109/02688697.2011.555019. Epub 2011 Jun 27.

Abstract

Fourth ventricle meningiomas (FVMs) are rare, often misdiagnosed, lesions. To the best of our knowledge, 47 cases have been reported in the literature: we describe our series of three cases treated at our Institution, focusing on some diagnostic tips and intraoperative features of these tumours. Our three patients have a history of headache. Gait disturbances, vomiting and/or diplopia complicated the clinical picture before the referral at our Department. The operations were uneventful, and the patients fully recovered from neurological symptoms. They are free of recurrence at a median follow-up of 19 years. FVMs are rare lesions, which are difficult to differentiate preoperatively from the much more common ependymomas. A preoperative distinction would be extremely advantageous: indeed, although both tumours share similar radiological and clinical patterns, they clearly differ as to surgical difficulty and outcome. In fact, meningiomas are comparatively easier to remove, granting better clinical results.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Diplopia / etiology
  • Female
  • Fourth Ventricle*
  • Gait Disorders, Neurologic / etiology
  • Headache Disorders / etiology
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Meningeal Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Meningeal Neoplasms / surgery
  • Meningioma / diagnosis*
  • Meningioma / surgery
  • Rare Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Rare Diseases / surgery
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vomiting / etiology
  • Young Adult