title: Intracranial tumours in the elderly: the effect of age on the outcome of first time surgery for meningiomas.
abstract: We have investigated the effect of age on the outcome of first time surgery for intracranial meningiomas. In a retrospective study, 144 consecutive patients were divided into three groups: young (up to 44 years of age, 38 patients), middle-aged (45-64 years, 60 patients) and elderly (65 years and over, 46 patients). Outcome was assessed at the first follow-up appointment 4-6 months after discharge. The surgical mortality was 2.7%. The incidence of significant intercurrent disease increased with age (11, 25 and 35%, respectively), as did the incidence of postoperative complications (16, 23 and 30%). Postoperative intracranial bleeding was especially age-related, occurring in 20% of the elderly group as against 0% of the younger. Although the younger patients did best (100% in Glasgow Outcome Scale Grade 5) there was no difference in outcome between the middle-age and elderly groups (88 and 83%, respectively). Of the elderly patients, 89% showed clear functional improvement after surgery, 2% were unchanged and 9% were worse or dead. The intellectual deterioration apparent in over half of the elderly patients recovered after removal of the tumour in 80%. We conclude that age has little effect on the prospects of success after removal of an intracranial meningioma.
authors.affiliation: Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead, London, UK.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Maurice-Williams
authors.forename: N D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Kitchen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D008579:Meningioma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality*