Cystic meningioma. Case report and literature review

BACKGROUND: Cystic meningioma is a rare variety of meningioma. It represents 1,6 to 10% of intracranial meningiomas, the authors report a case of intracranial cystic meningioma with a review of literature. CASE REPORT: A 46-year-old female presented with left parietooccipital headache followed by right side hemiparesis. CT scan brain showed a left parietal tumor with double solid and cystic components thought to be glioma or metastasis preoperatively. At surgery the extraaxial solid and cystic lesion had a well defined capsule that could be easily separated from the perilesional cortical surface. The tumor was totally removed. The histological study showed a cystic meningioma. CONCLUSION: Cystic meningioma is an uncommon tumor that should be considered in the differential diagnosis of brain tumors with a cystic component.