Laser ablation of a sphenoid wing meningioma: A case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND: Meningiomas are the most common primary central nervous system neoplasm in the United States. While the majority of meningiomas are benign, the World Health Organization (WHO) Grade I tumors, a not-insignificant proportion of tumors are in anatomically complex locations or demonstrate more aggressive phenotypes, presenting a challenge for local disease control with surgery and radiation. Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) consists of stereotactic delivery of laser light for tumor ablation and is minimally invasive, requiring implantation of a laser fiber through a cranial burr hole. Herein, we demonstrate the first use of this technology in a progressive atypical sphenoid wing meningioma for a previously resected and irradiated tumor. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 47-year-old female was diagnosed with a left-sided atypical meningioma, the WHO 2, of the sphenoid wing following acute worsening of bitemporal headache and dizziness. Given neurovascular involvement, a subtotal resection was performed, followed by stereotactic radiosurgery. Following progression 9 months from resection, the patient elected to proceed with LITT. The patient’s postoperative course was uncomplicated and she remains progression free at 24 months following LITT. CONCLUSION: We present the first use of LITT for a sphenoid wing meningioma documented in the literature, which demonstrated enhanced disease control for a lesion that was refractory to both surgery and radiation. LITT could represent an additional option for local control of progressive meningiomas, even in locations that are challenging to access surgically. More evidence is needed regarding the technical nuances of LITT for lesions of the skull base.