Meningioma:

What is a Meningioma?
Considered benign tumors, meningiomas are believed to arise from the cells in the meninges (coverings of the brain and spine). Meningiomas rarely invade or spread to other parts of the body.

Treating Meningiomas:
Accessible meningiomas are more easily treated with surgery than other tumor types. The goal of surgery is always to remove the meningioma totally, including the fibers that attach it to the coverings of the brain and bone. Even though complete removal is the goal, it is more important to preserve or improve the patient’s neurological function.

With careful consideration and help from their doctors, some patients may decide not to have surgery or to delay surgery if:
- the meningioma is very slow-growing
- the patient has few symptoms and a long history of tumors with little negative affect
- the operation poses a significant threat
These patients should be monitored very closely by experts over a period of time, and may choose other therapies such as radiation.

New Advances in Tumor Vaccines:
The Cedars-Sinai Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute is a leader in tumor vaccine research. Tumor vaccines work much like vaccines for other diseases by stimulating the body’s natural defenses. Some meningioma patients may be eligible for participation in our tumor vaccine clinical trials.

For more information about meningiomas and available treatments, please visit Cedars-Sinai