Foramen magnum menningiomas: a report of 14 patients

This is a retrospective analysis of 14 patients with foramen magnum meningiomas over 12 years. Two types were encountered: craniospinal type [64.3%] and spinocranial type [35.7%]. The mean age was 51.8 years with 9 women. The clinical features were vague and bizard. Misdiagnosis and incorrect surgical intervention were common. Hemiparesis or quadriparesis were found in all patients, dysesthesias in 50%, C2 sensory hypoalgesia in 35.7% and cranial nerve dysfunction in 28.6%. MRl was the diagnostic procedure in all cases. Meningiomas were of large size in 81.4%. Partial transcondylar approach was used in 3 patients, retromastoid approach in 6 patients. Gross total tumor resection was possible in 43%, while operative complications occurred in 57%. On conclusion: the patients got benefit from surgery with good functional recovery in 50% without perioperative deaths [P < 0.005]