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Spinal meningioma

Dr Frank Gaillardet al.view revision history

Meningiomas arising from the coverings of the spinal cord represent a minority of allmeningiomas (approximately 12%5) but are the second most commonintradural extramedullary

spinal tumourrepresenting 25% of all such tumours2. Despite usually being small, due to the

confines of the spinal canal they can result in significant neurologic dysfunction.

This article specifically relates to spinal meningiomas. For a discussion intracranial meningiomasand for a general discussion of the pathology refer to the main article:meningioma.

Epidemiology

Spinal meningiomas have a peak incidence is in the fifth and sixth decades.

Interestingly, and unlike intracranial meningiomas, in the adult population, females are

approximately ten times more commonly affected than males. In children, there does not appear

to be a sex predilection.

There is an increased incidence of spinal meningiomas in patients with neurofibromatosis type 2,

and in fact in the paediatric population, meningiomas uncommonly occur outside of the settingof NF2.

Clinical presentation

The majority of patients present with motor deficits as a result of compression of the spinal cord.Less common presentations include sensory deficits, pain and sphincter dysfunction.

Pathology

Most spinal meningiomas are benign, with greater than 95% being classified as WHO grade I

lesions6. They are believed to originate from the denticulate ligaments.

For a discussion of the pathology of meningiomas pathology refer to thegeneralmeningiomaarticle.

Radiographic features

The vast majority (90%) of spinal meningiomas are extramedullary/intradural in location.

Occasionally (5%) purely extradural tumours are found and the remainder (5%) have both

intradural and extradural components taking on adumbbell appearance2.

Interestingly spinal meningiomas are also not distributed evenly along the canal:

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cervical spine : 15% thoracic spine : 80% lumbosacral spine: uncommon2

Meningiomas are often located posterolaterally in the thoracic region and anteriorly in the

cervical region

6

.

Most meningiomas are solitary lesions (98%). Multiple meningiomas are most often associated

with NF26.

Plain film

usually normal rarely bone erosion or calcification

CT (non-contrast)

Isodense or moderately hyperdense mass hyperostosis may be seen but is not as common as in the intracranial forms calcification may be present

MRI

well-circumscribed broad-based dural attachment dural tail sign

They share similar signal characteristics tointracranial meningiomas:

T1o isointense to slightly hypointenseo may have a heterogenous texture

T2 : isointense to slightly hyperintense T1 C+ (Gd) : moderate homogeneous enhancement

Occasionally, densely calcified meningiomas are hypointense on T1 and T2, and show onlyminimal contrast enhancement.

Treatment and prognosis

Spinal meningiomas are typically slow growing. Surgery is the treatment of choice and complete

tumour removal is achieved in the vast majority of patients. Less than 10% experiencerecurrence

2.

Differential diagnosis

The main differential are neurogenic tumours (spinal schwannoma&spinal neurofibroma):

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typically located anteriorly (compared to meningiomas which are usually locatedposterolaterally)

tendency for multiplicity may have low intensity central regions on post-contrast T1 and T2 weighted images not associated with a broad dural base

neural exit foraminal widening is more commonly seen with nerve sheath tumours

References

1. Brant WE, Helms CA. Fundamentals of Diagnostic Radiology. Lippincott Williams &Wilkins. (2006) ISBN:0781765188.Read it at Google Books-Find it at Amazon

2. Osborn AG. Diagnostic neuroradiology. Mosby Inc. (1994) ISBN:0801674867.Read itat Google Books-Find it at Amazon

3. Grossman RI, Yousem DM. Neuroradiology, the requisites. Mosby Inc. (2003)ISBN:032300508X.Read it at Google Books-Find it at Amazon

4. Soderlund KA, Smith AB, Rushing EJ et-al. Radiologic-pathologic correlation ofpediatric and adolescent spinal neoplasms: Part 2, Intradural extramedullary spinalneoplasms. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2012;198 (1): 44-51.doi:10.2214/AJR.11.7121-

Pubmed citation

5. Buetow MP, Buetow PC, Smirniotopoulos JG. Typical, atypical, and misleadingfeatures in meningioma. Radiographics. 1991;11 (6): 1087-106.Radiographics (citation)

-Pubmed citation

6. Abul-kasim K, Thurnher MM, Mckeever P et-al. Intradural spinal tumors: currentclassification and MRI features. Neuroradiology. 2008;50 (4): 301-14.doi:10.1007/s00234-007-0345-7-Pubmed citation

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