Postoperative mental functions in patients with frontal meningiomas

Background: The meninges (dura mater, arachnoid, pia mater) are the site of numerous pathological lesions including inflammation and neoplasm. Meningiomas are the most frequently observed lesions and the most common of primary meningeal tumours. Over the years, meningiomas have been histologically classified and some entities have been added to the cadre of meningioma variants, while others have been designated as other types of tumours. The 2000 revision of the World Health Organisation (WHO) grading system provided diagnostic guidelines. Most meningiomas are biologically benign and correspond to the WHO grade. However, certain meningiomas have an increased tendency to recur or follow an aggressive clinical behaviour and are assigned an WHO grade and have a substantially increased incidence of recurrence. Rhabdoid meningioma, papillary meningioma and anaplastic meningioma corresponding to WHO grade have an even higher incidence of recurrence and may be associated with systemic metastasis or brain invasion. Objective: There is some information regarding the nature of mental deficits caused by intracranial meningiomas. In this study the authors examined the mental functioning of patients with frontal meningiomas. Methods: Twenty-one patients with frontal meningiomas were examined for various neurological symptoms after surgery. Observed neurological symptoms were memory deficits (verbal and figural), attention and executive functions. The time period between onset of the effect on mental functions of meningioma and postoperative observations ranged from 2-3 months. Conclusion: Postoperative findings revealed a few or no differences in memory or executive functions, although, a postoperative improvement in attentional functions was observed. The results of this study indicate that the surgical removal of frontal meningiomas does not impair patients' mental functioning.