Peritumoral brain edema in intracranial meningiomas.

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this study was to determine the relationship between patient age and gender and meningioma location, histological subtype, size, lobulation and peritumoral brain edema (PTBE).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In a series of 55 patients with intracranial meningiomas, factors possibly related to the development of PTBE were analyzed. We used an EI (edema index) as the indicator of PTBE. EI was calculated by dividing the area of PTBE by that of the tumor. Thus if EI = 1, there is no PTBE. Univariate analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between EI and related factors. The MEI (mean edema index) difference between age groups was calculated using the Duncan Test.

RESULTS

We found that none of the factors analyzed influenced PTBE except patient age 61-70 years, which correlated with PTBE (p = 0.022). The difference between MEI in the 41-50 years and 61-70 years age groups was significant, with that in the 61-70 years age group being significantly higher.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that these findings in the 61-70 years age group may constitute an increased risk of perioperative mortality and morbidity.