Indications and outcome in surgically treated asymptomatic meningiomas: a single-center case-control study

BACKGROUND: Many meningiomas are detected incidentally and remain asymptomatic until intervention. The goal of this study was to describe the management and outcome in this group of surgically treated asymptomatic meningiomas. METHODS: From 2004 to 2017, 45 patients with asymptomatic meningioma were surgically treated at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, and their medical records and imaging data were analyzed. The asymptomatic cases were matched with symptomatic ones with respect to age at diagnosis, location, WHO (World Health Organization) grade, and Simpson grade. RESULTS: Time from diagnosis to surgery differed between the asymptomatic and symptomatic patients (8.6 vs. 1.3 months; p < 0.001). Of symptomatic patients, 32.6% still used anti-epileptic drugs > 1 year after surgery, compared with 7.7% of the asymptomatic (p = 0.003). Thirty-day complication rate was significantly higher among the asymptomatic cases (35.6% vs. 24.4%; 0.001), as well as the proportion of older asymptomatic individuals (> 70 years) experiencing postoperative complication compared with symptomatic patients of the same age group. CONCLUSION: As expected, asymptomatic cases had smaller tumors and waited longer for surgery. Surprisingly, complication rate was significantly higher among asymptomatic cases compared with their symptomatic control. Taken into account that many asymptomatic tumors are removed surgically due to patient’s wish, one might suggest a more restrictive approach, especially in the elderly. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1007/s00701-020-04244-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.