Olfactory meningiomas

Summary The clinical features of 25 cases of olfactory groove meningiomas operated between 1950 and 1970 are presented, discussed and compared with earlier series. Particular attention is focused on early symptoms and diagnostic studies that might lead to earlier recognition of these tumors. The surgical mortality rate was 12 per cent. However, this improvement of operative results over some of the previously reported series does not seem to be related to earlier recognition of the tumors; most of them were very large at the time of operation and the average patients complaints extended over a long period of time before the correct diagnosis was established. Although radioactive brain scanning and carotid angiography are very helpful in outlining these tumors, early surgical treatment is still prevented by the lack of careful and timely evaluation of patients who present the initial symptoms of anosmia, mental abnormalities or visual deterioration.