Predictors of Morbidity and Cleavage Plane in Surgical Resection of Pure Convexity Meningiomas Using Cerebrospinal Fluid Sensitive Image Subtraction Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Meningiomas are the most common primary intracranial tumors. Since the adhesions in the plane of dissection are of interest in surgical planning, we suggest that digital image subtraction of FLAIR data from the T(2) sequence of MRI may represent better the CSF spaces in the brain–tumor interface and may be a predictor of the intraoperative cleavage plane. From 2006 to 2016, 83 convexity meningiomas were resected in the Department of Neurosurgery of the University Hospital Complex of Vigo, an analysis of preoperative MRI was performed to assess peritumoral edema (PTE), tumor volume, among others; a digital subtraction of T(2)-FLAIR sequences was performed and analyzed in relationship to the cleavage plane described in the intraoperative report and postoperative neurological deficits. Simpson grade 1 resection was achieved in 85.54%, the overall 5-year PFS was 93.75%. Our rate of permanent new neurological deficit was 4.82% and the overall complication rate of 14.46%. The grade of PTE was proportional to tumor volume, 20 ± 2.8, 30 ± 5.3, and 34 ± 4.3 cm(3) for grades 1, 2, and 3, respectively, positive cleft sign on image subtraction was predictive of good intraoperative cleavage plane and low grade cleavage plane (P = 0.04), and was a protective factor for postoperative neurological deficit (P = 0.02). Positive cleft sign in T(2)-FLAIR digital subtraction image is an independent predictor of good intraoperative cleavage plane, PTE is an independent predictor of the bad cleavage plane. Negative cleft sign in the image subtraction and a bad intraoperative cleavage plane are predictors of postoperative neurological deficit.