Cystic changes in intracranial meningiomas. A review.

A survey on cystic meningiomas is given based upon the analysis of 85 cases in the literature and an additional three of our own. In these three cases the computerized tomography appearance led to an incorrect preoperative diagnosis of necrotic glioma or metastatic lesion. The tumours were totally removed and the definitive diagnosis of meningioma was histologically confirmed. In reviewing the literature, we found 85 cases of intracranial meningiomas with cystic changes reported. Their pathological and radiological findings are discussed.