Clinicopathological analysis of metaplastic meningioma: report of 15 cases in Huashan Hospital.
OBJECTIVE
Metaplastic meningioma is a rare subtype of benign meningiomas, classified as WHO grade I with well prognosis. Here we presented our experiences on 15 cases of metaplastic meningioma, to investigate the clinicopathological features, therapies and prognosis of these cases.


METHODS
15 patients underwent surgical treatment for intracranial metaplastic meningioma between 2001 and 2010 at Neurosurgery Department of Huashan Hospital, Shanghai, China. The clinical data, radiological manifestation, treatment strategy, pathological findings and prognosis of all patients were analyzed retrospectively.


RESULTS
Among the 15 cases (10 males and 5 females), the age ranged from 22 to 74 years old (the mean age was 50.67-year old). The clinical manifestations include headache, dizziness, seizure attack, vision decrease, and weakness of bilateral lower limbs. All the patients received surgical treatment, combined with radiotherapy in some cases. In the follow-up period, recurrence occurred in 2 cases, of which 1 patient died of other system complications.


CONCLUSIONS
Metaplastic meningiomas are characterized by focal or widespread mesenchymal differentiation with formation of bone, cartilage, fat, and xanthomatous tissue elements. Surgical removal is the optimal therapy, and the overall prognosis is well. But recurrence may occur in some cases, thus radiotherapy is necessary for such kind of patients.
Neurosurgery Department of Huashan Hospital, Shanghai 200040, China;
Hailiang
H
Tang
Huaping
H
Sun
Hong
H
Chen
Ye
Y
Gong
Ying
Y
Mao
Qing
Q
Xie
Liqian
L
Xie
Mingzhe
M
Zheng
Daijun
D
Wang
Hongda
H
Zhu
Xiaoming
X
Che
Ping
P
Zhong
Kang
K
Zheng
Shiqi
S
Li
Weimin
W
Bao
Jianhong
J
Zhu
Xuanchun
X
Wang
Xiaoyuan
X
Feng
Xiancheng
X
Chen
Liangfu
L
Zhou
Metaplastic meningioma; follow-up; mesenchymal differentiation