Major venous sinus resection in the surgical treatment of recurrent aggressive dural based tumors

BACKGROUND: Despite gross total resection, aggressive dural based tumors invading major venous sinuses have high recurrence rates with poor long-term survivability. Options for aggressive surgical management of dural sinus invasion may be limited by the inherently high risk of morbidity and mortality. METHODS: Between July 1996 and July 2002, 5 cases of recurrent aggressive dural based tumors were operated on. Gross total resection had been previously performed in 4 cases, and near total resection in 1 case. Tumor pathology included 2 malignant meningiomas, 1 hemangiopericytoma, 1 atypical meningioma, and 1 benign meningioma with atypical features. All tumors recurred within 3 to 47 months and occluded a major venous sinus (four superior sagittal and one dominant right transverse sinus). Gross total resection of tumor and involved venous sinus was accomplished in each case. RESULTS: Three patients had no signs of clinical or radiographic recurrence at 10, 18, and 53 months of follow up. One patient who developed a fatal pulmonary embolism 10 months postoperatively had evidence of tumor progression on autopsy. One patient had tumor recurrence at 10 months, but is alive at 38 months and receiving adjunctive therapy. CONCLUSION: For aggressive dural based tumors that recur with invasion of a major venous sinus, radical resection of tumor and occluded sinus can be performed safely and may improve long-term survival.