Frontal sinus approach to olfactory groove meningiomas

We report on our experience of the frontal sinus approach for removing olfactory groove meningiomas. Five tumors were operated on, one unilateral, four bilateral. Osteotomy of the anterior wall of the frontal sinus was performed with an oscillating saw without any burr hole. The posterior wall of the sinus was resected and the tumor was attacked along the plane of the anterior skull base. Ethmoidal blood supply was controlled at the initial stage of the operation, allowing avascular tumor debulking. Olfactory nerves, invaded by the tumor, usually cannot be spared. Tumor extensions towards the sella and the optic canals were removed without any brain retraction, nor opening of the sylvian fissure, nor dissection of the carotid arteries. The frontal sinus approach is technically easy to achieve. Osteotomy and reconstruction of the anterior wall of the frontal sinus are rapidly performed. When the frontal sinus is small, image guided surgery allows to delineate precisely its limits and the flap includes the calvarial outer layer, tangenitally cut from one supra-orbital canal to the other. Cosmetic result is perfect. The frontal sinus approach gives access to the medial part of the orbital roofs and to the central anterior skull base from the crista galli to the tuberculum sellae and the anterior clinoids. The frontal sinus approach represents an alternative to conventional craniotomies for tumors developed in the central anterior skull base, especially for olfactory groove meningiomas.     

Pterional approach for surgical treatment of olfactory groove meningiomas

We present our experience with the surgical treatment of olfactory groove meningiomas using a pterional approach. This approach provides the advantages of previous techniques, such as preserving the frontal brain and superior sagittal sinus, early devascularization of the tumor, and late dissection of tumor borders. Moreover, it also compensates for the shortcomings of other techniques, e.g., compression of frontal bridging veins, late dissection of dorsal tumor aspects involving vessels and optic nerves as well as facultative infection and cerebrospinal fluid fistula-related complications caused by opening of frontal sinuses. To date, 11 patients were treated in this way. As we encountered no surgical complications in our series we are encouraged to present our procedure.     

Presentation and patterns of late recurrence of olfactory groove meningiomas

The objective of this article is to present the recurrence pattern of olfactory groove meningiomas after surgical resection. Four patients, one female and three males, with surgically resected olfactory groove meningiomas presented with tumor recurrence. All patients underwent resection of an olfactory groove meningioma and later presented with recurrent tumors. The mean age at initial diagnosis was 47 years. All presented initially with vision changes, anosmia, memory dysfunction, and personality changes. Three patients had a preoperative MRI scan. All patients had a craniotomy, with gross total resection achieved in three, and 90% tumor removal achieved in the fourth. Involved dura was coagulated, but not resected, in all cases. Three patients were followed with routine head CT scans postoperatively, and none was followed with MRI scan. The mean time to recurrence was 6 years. Three patients presented with recurrent visual deterioration, and one presented with symptoms of nasal obstruction. Postoperative CT scans failed to document early tumor recurrence, whereas MRI documented tumor recurrence in all patients. Tumor resection and optic nerve decompression improved vision in two patients and stabilized vision in two. Complete resection was not possible because of extensive bony involvement around the anterior clinoid and inferior to the anterior cranial fossa in all cases. Evaluation of four patients with recurrent growth of olfactory groove meningiomas showed the epicenter of recurrence to be inferior to the anterior cranial fossa, with posterior extension involving the optic canals, leading to visual deterioration. This location led to a delay in diagnosis in patients who were followed only with routine CT scans. Initial surgical procedures should include removal of involved dura and bone, and follow-up evaluation should include formal ophthalmologic evaluations and routine head MRI scans.     

Olfactory groove meningiomas

We report here a retrospective study of 59 consecutive patients with olfactory groove meningiomas admitted and operated on between 1991 and 2008. Our goal was to characterize clinical features, treatment strategies, and outcome of these lesions. The surgical resection grade, the histological type and the presence of recurrences in the follow-up period were analyzed. Maximum tumor diameter determined by preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations was between 2 and 11 cm. In 38 surgical procedures (64.4%), the tumor was removed through a bilateral subfrontal approach, in 12 (20.3%) a unilateral subfrontal approach was used, and in nine procedures (15.3%) a pterional approach was performed. The average age at presentation was 52 years (age: 20–76 years) and the sex ratio was 1.45:1 (females/males). According to Simpson's grading system, the degree of tumor removal was: grade I in 14 cases (23.8%), grade II in 38 cases (64.4%), grade III in four cases (6.8%) and grade IV in three cases (5%). Fifty-six patients had benign meningiomas (94.9%) and three patients had atypical meningiomas (5.1%). Two patients (3.4%) died from pulmonary embolism and bronchopneumonia. There were recurrences in six patients (10.1%), between 9 months and 12 years (mean 7.2 years) after surgery. The olfactory groove is a relatively frequent location for intracranial meningiomas, accounting for 9.1% of all intracranial meningiomas in our experience. Olfactory groove meningiomas tend to be clinically silent tumors until they are very large when symptoms or other abnormalities become evident. A surgical procedure adapted to the size and the extension of the tumor combined with microsurgical techniques allows total meningioma removal with good neurological outcome.     

Olfactory groove meningiomas

Meningiomas, usually histologically benign tumors, are originating from the arachnoidal cap cells normally present intracranially in varying sites. Olfactory groove meningeomas arise from the medline of the anterior fossa between the crista galli and the tuberculum sellae. The most common presenting symptoms are the visual field defects, epilepsy, and psychological change. They are often large before they are detected because of slowly asymptomatic growing in the interhemispheric space of the frontal lobes. This series is consisted of 29 patients suffering from olfactory groove meningiomas treated surgicaly between May 1992 and November 2003. The surgical results and complications are presented and analized, comparing them by the other reported series.     

单侧额下入路显微切除大型及巨大型嗅沟脑膜瘤

目的 总结经单侧额下入路显微手术切除大型及巨大型嗅沟脑膜瘤的体会.方法 大型及巨大型嗅沟脑膜瘤患者31例,所有患者均经单侧额下入路开颅,显微手术切除病变.结果 Simpson Ⅰ级切除21例,Ⅱ级切除8例,Ⅲ级切除2例.结论 单侧额下入路显微手术能够用于切除大型及巨大型嗅沟脑膜瘤,与双侧额下入路比较,创伤小,恢复快,术后并发症少,符合微侵袭的理念.     

Microsurgical total removal of olfactory groove meningiomas and reconstruction of the invaded skull bases

In order to study the microsurgical techniques of olfactory groove meningiomas invading the skull base and the reconstruction of the skull base, clinical materials of 17 patients with olfactory groove meningiomas were analyzed retrospectively. Simpson Grade I resection was achieved in all cases. No death, cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea, or intracranial infection occurred postoperatively, and no tumor recurrence was observed after a 1- to 9-year follow-up. For olfactory groove meningiomas invading the skull bases, microsurgical total removal of the lesions as well as the complete reconstruction of the skull bases is essential in order to achieve total tumor resection and impede tumor recurrence without serious complication.     

Validity of the frontolateral approach as a minimally invasive corridor for olfactory groove meningiomas

Background  

Several approaches are described for olfactory groove meningiomas (OGMs) varying from a very wide bifrontal craniotomy to minimally invasive endoscopic techniques. The goal of this study was to evaluate the results of the frontolateral approach for olfactory groove meningioma. Pitfalls related to this corridor will be described. The impact of tumor size and encasement of the anterior cerebral artery complex on the degree of tumor removal will be described on the basis of experience with 18 cases.     

Endoscopic endonasal versus transcranial approach to resection of olfactory groove meningiomas: a systematic review

Neurosurgical Review - Despite the increasing utility of the endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) for management of anterior skull base (ASB) pathologies, the optimal treatment strategy for...     

Recurrence of meningiomas after operation

The authors reviewed 53 consecutive patients who underwent surgical removal of a meningioma within a 10-year period. The removal was graded macroscopically as either a total removal (types I-III) or a subtotal removal (type IV). The patients were observed for an average period of 5.3 years, during which time there was a 9.5% recurrence after type I removals and an 18.4% recurrence after type II. There was regrowth in 20% of the subtotal group. There was no correlation with age or sex, but histology was important. Syncytial tumors tended to recur, and mitosis and area of focal necrosis were associated with a tendency towards recurrence. The significant features associated with recurrence are discussed.     

Schwannoma of the olfactory groove

Summary A personal case, the third in the literature, of an olfactory groove schwannoma in a young man aged 19 is reported, and the two cases previously described are reviewed. Occurrence in young males and long histories are characteristic.     

Isolated olfactory groove neurilemmoma.

A case of neurilemmoma arising from the olfactory groove presenting with headache, vomiting, and visual impairment in a thirty-seven-year-old man is reported. His clinical manifestations are described, with a brief review of three other cases reported in the literature so far.     

Olfactory groove meningiomas: functional outcome in a series treated microsurgically

Summary   Background. A systematic investigation of long-term follow-up results after microsurgical treatment of patients harbouring an olfactory groove meningioma, particularly with regard to postoperative olfactory and mental function, has rarely been performed. We reassessed a series of patients treated microsurgically for an olfactory groove meningioma in regard to clinical presentation, surgical approaches and long-term functional outcome. Method. Clinical, radiological and surgical data in a consecutive series of 56 patients suffering from olfactory groove meningioma were retrospectively reviewed. Findings. Presenting symptoms of the 41 women and 15 men (mean age 51 years) were mental changes in 39.3%, visual impairment in 16.1% and anosmia in 14.3% of the patients. Preoperative neurological examination revealed deficits in olfaction in 71.7%, mental disturbances in 55.4% and reduced vision in 21.4% of the cases. The tumour was resected via a bifrontal craniotomy in 36, a pterional route in 13, a unilateral frontal approach in 4 and via a supraorbital approach in 3 patients. Extent of tumour resection according to Simpson’s classification system was grade I in 42.9% and grade II in 57.1% of the cases. After a mean follow-up period of 5.6 years (range 1–13 years) by clinical examination and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), 86.8% of the patients resumed normal life activity. Olfaction was preserved in 24.4% of patients in whom pre- and postoperative data were available. Mental and visual disturbances improved in 88 and 83.3% of cases, respectively. Five recurrences (8.9%) were observed and had to be reoperated. Conclusions. Frontal approaches allowed better resection of tumours with gross infiltration of the anterior cranial base, tumours extending into the ethmoids or nasal cavity and in cases with deep olfactory grooves. Preservation of olfaction should be attempted in patients with normal or reduced smelling preoperatively.     

Olfactory groove meningiomas: a retrospective study on 59 surgical cases

We report here a retrospective study of 59 consecutive patients with olfactory groove meningiomas admitted and operated on between 1991 and 2008. Our goal was to characterize clinical features, treatment strategies, and outcome of these lesions. The surgical resection grade, the histological type and the presence of recurrences in the follow-up period were analyzed. Maximum tumor diameter determined by preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations was between 2 and 11?cm. In 38 surgical procedures (64.4%), the tumor was removed through a bilateral subfrontal approach, in 12 (20.3%) a unilateral subfrontal approach was used, and in nine procedures (15.3%) a pterional approach was performed. The average age at presentation was 52?years (age: 20-76?years) and the sex ratio was 1.45:1 (females/males). According to Simpson's grading system, the degree of tumor removal was: grade I in 14 cases (23.8%), grade II in 38 cases (64.4%), grade III in four cases (6.8%) and grade IV in three cases (5%). Fifty-six patients had benign meningiomas (94.9%) and three patients had atypical meningiomas (5.1%). Two patients (3.4%) died from pulmonary embolism and bronchopneumonia. There were recurrences in six patients (10.1%), between 9?months and 12?years (mean 7.2?years) after surgery. The olfactory groove is a relatively frequent location for intracranial meningiomas, accounting for 9.1% of all intracranial meningiomas in our experience. Olfactory groove meningiomas tend to be clinically silent tumors until they are very large when symptoms or other abnormalities become evident. A surgical procedure adapted to the size and the extension of the tumor combined with microsurgical techniques allows total meningioma removal with good neurological outcome.     

The puzzling olfactory groove schwannoma: a systematic review

We systematically reviewed the literature concerning the anterior cranial fossa schwannomas to understand their pathogenesis, determine their origin, and standardize the terminology. We performed a MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Science Citation Index Expanded search of the literature; age, gender, clinical presentation, presence or absence of hyposmia, radiological features, and apparent origin were analyzed and tabulated. Cases in a context of neurofibromatosis and nasal schwannomas with intracranial extension were not included. Age varied between 14 and 63 years (mean = 30.9). There were 22 male and 11 female patients. The clinical presentation included seizures (n = 15), headache (n = 16), visual deficits (n = 7), cognitive disturbances (n = 3), and rhinorrhea (n = 1). Hyposmia was present in 14 cases, absent in 13 cases (39.3%), and unreported in five. Homogeneous and heterogeneous contrast enhancement was observed in 14 and 15 cases, respectively. The region of the olfactory groove was the probable site in 96.5%. Olfactory tract could be identified in 39.3%. The most probable origin is the meningeal branches of trigeminal nerve or anterior ethmoidal nerves. Thus, olfactory groove schwannoma would better describe its origin and pathogenesis and should be the term preferentially used to name it.     

Recurrence of intracranial meningiomas: the role played by regional multicentricity

Meningiomas are regarded as benign dural tumors that can be totally removed; however, after a resection that appears to the naked eye to be total, their recurrence rate is high. Malignancy in a few cases and an erroneous belief in many others that the excision was total are among the most accepted explanations. Few studies have mentioned multicentricity as a cause of "relapse." Therefore, the authors decided to examine the dura mater around globular meningiomas for evidence of regional multifocality. A radial strip of dura was removed from the line of attachment of globular meningiomas in 14 consecutive patients. Meningotheliomatous cell aggregates were demonstrated in 100% of these dural strips in the form of either intradural clusters or nodes protruding from the inner aspect of the dura. The benign appearance of the cells and the great prevalence in this study of the benign types of meningioma seem to exclude malignancy; the intradural position of the clusters and their independence from blood vessels apparently negate seeding and dural metastasis. Control strips of convexity dura mater taken from 10 neurosurgical patients without meningioma failed to show these meningotheliomatous conglomerates. These findings indicate that solitary globular meningiomas represent only the most visible growth in the midst of a neoplastic field change spreading over a wide area of dura mater. The authors believe that this can explain some unexpected "recurrences," and that a wide resection of dura around globular meningiomas, whenever possible, could reduce the incidence of clinical growth after true total excision of the most visible lesion. It remains to be determined what factors cause the acceleration of growth of these cell aggregates after removal of the dominant tumor.