What is a Meningioma?
A meningioma is a rare kind of brain tumour. Cancer is a condition in which cells of the body start dividing uncontrollably.
Brain Tumors
Signs of Meningioma:
The signs and symptoms may be caused by Meningiomais due to the tumour mass pressing on surrounding structures. They include:
- Changes in vision, such as seeing double or blurriness.
- Headaches that worsen with time.
- Hearing loss or ringing in the ears.
- Memory loss.
- Loss of smell.
- Seizures.
- Weakness in your arms or legs.
- Patients with small meningiomas may however be asymptomatic.
Tests for Meningioma:
The following tests and procedures may be used:
- Physical exam and health history: An exam of the body to check general signs of health, including checking for signs of disease, such as lumps or anything else that seems unusual. A history of the patient’s health habits and past illnesses and treatments will also be taken.
- MRI Brain
Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options.
The prognosis and treatment options depend on the following:
- Grade of the tumor (Grade I, II or III). WHO Grade I tumours are usually curable.
- Whether the cancer has just been diagnosed or has recurred (come back).
Treatment options also may depend on the following:
- Whether the patient has other health problems.
- The expected side effects of treatment.
- Past treatment for prostate cancer.
- The wishes of the patient.
Treatment Options
- There are different types of treatment for patients with Neuroendocrine Tumors.
- Active surveillance with deferred treatment, especially for incidentally discovered asymptomatic tumors.
- Surgery.
- Stereotactic radiosurgery for tumors smaller than 3 cm.
- Surgery plus radiation therapy in selected cases, such as for patients with known or suspected residual disease or with recurrence after previous surgery.
- Fractionated radiation therapy for patients with unresectable tumours.
- Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy in treatment resistant or recurred high grade meningiomas.
- New types of treatment are being tested in clinical trials.
- Treatment for neuroendocrine tumors may cause side effects.
- Follow-up tests may be needed.
Treatment Options
- PRRT uses a radioactive substance to treat cancer that has spread to multiple parts of the body:
- o Lutetium – 177 DOTATATE therapy
- Actinium – 225 DOTATATE therapy
On injection into the patient, the PRRT agent targets the sits of the tumor and deposits radiation at the sites.
Follow-up tests may be needed.
Some of the tests that were done to diagnose the cancer or to find out the stage of the cancer may be repeated. Some tests will be repeated in order to see how well the treatment is working. Decisions about whether to continue, change, or stop treatment may be based on the results of these tests.
Some of the tests will continue to be done from time to time after treatment has ended. The results of these tests can show if your condition has changed or if the cancer has recurred (come back). These tests are sometimes called follow-up tests or check-ups.