title: Surgical resection of pediatric skull base meningiomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Meningiomas in children are rare, especially those located at the skull base. In this study, we report our experience of meningioma surgery in the pediatric population and compare our findings of skull base (SB) versus non-skull base (NSB) meningiomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  From our database of 724 surgically treated meningioma patients at the University Hospital, Zurich between 1995 and 2010, 12 patients under 18 years of age were identified. Data for those patients was retrospectively collected through chart review. A descriptive comparison between SB and NSB meningiomas was undertaken to determine statistical significance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all 12 children (seven males, five females; mean age 12.2 ± 4.3 years), surgical removal of the meningioma was performed microsurgically with a mean follow-up of 53 months (range 12-137 months). Of the 12 tumors, six were located in the SB and six in the NSB. Comparing SB to NSB lesions, the mean age was 11 ± 3.8 versus 14 ± 4.6 years, male/female gender distribution was 5:1 compared to 1:5, mean tumor size was 7.5 ± 6.2 versus 26 ± 15.8 cm(2) (p = 0.03), and mean surgery time was 347 versus 214 min. While WHO grade was similar for both groups, the Simpson grade revealed more extensive resection for NSB meningiomas. The Glasgow Outcome Scale at last follow-up was favorable for both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Meningioma surgery was safe with favorable outcomes. SB meningiomas were significantly smaller in size, were less likely to undergo complete resection, and had a predilection for younger, male patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Zurich, Frauenklinikstrasse 10, Zurich 8091, Switzerland. JanKarl.Burkhardt@gmail.com
authors.forename: Jan-Karl
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Burkhardt
authors.forename: Marian C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Neidert
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Grotzer
authors.forename: Niklaus
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Krayenbühl
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bozinov
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008579:Meningioma / Q000601:surgery*; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019291:Skull Base / Q000601:surgery*