title: Clinical features and surgical treatment of asymptomatic meningiomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore clinical features and surgical treatment of asymptomatic meningiomas (AMs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical materials of 122 patients with AMs treated surgically were analyzed retrospectively and the associated literatures were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 39 males and 83 females whose ages ranged from 38 to 72 years with a mean of 58.6 years in this series. The cerebral convexity (32.8%), parasagittal region (31.1%), and parafalcine (29.5%) ranked in the top three of all locations of AMs. The average size of the tumors was 2.8 cm in diameter, with a tumoral calcification rate of 33.6%. Among the 82 cases of AMs monitored with serial computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scannings, 44 had no obvious growth during a period of 3 to 18 months (mean 10.5 months) whereas 38 increased in diameter from 0.2 to 1.8 cm (mean 0.4 cm) every year during a period of 6 to 38 months (mean 26 months). Total resection was achieved in all cases. No death or permanent neurological deficits occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AMs have some marked clinical characteristics compared with the symptomatic meningiomas. Their definitive treatment project rests with patients'age, results of follow-up, surgical risk-effect ratio, size, calcification of the tumor as well as patient preference.
authors: Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Brain Science Research Institute of Shandong University, Department of Neurosurgery, Jinan, PR China.
authors: Yuguang
authors: Y
authors: Liu
authors: Feng
authors: F
authors: Li
authors: Chuanwei
authors: C
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008579:Meningioma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome