Correlation between Radiological Images and Histopathological Type of Meningioma: A Cohort Study

BACKGROUND: Histologically affirmed meningiomas represent 37.6% of all essential central nervous system tumors and half of all types of critical central nervous system tumors. This study compares computed tomography (CT) scans of the head with histological findings to establish the characteristics of different types of meningiomas observed in eastern Indonesia. METHODS: This prospective study evaluated 224 patients by examining the correlation between histological and CT data collected from January to December 2020 at Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital, Makassar, Indonesia. We assessed data including the location of pre- and post-contrast CT scans, number of tumors, margin, density, contrast enhancement, bony reaction, calcification, and perifocal edema. Patients underwent biopsies followed by an examination of the anatomical pathology tissue. RESULTS: The female-to-male ratio of participants was 4.2 to 1, and the highest incidence was observed in participants of both genders aged 40–60 years. The most common meningioma subtype was meningothelial, while the most commonly observed locations involved the convexity and sphenoid regions. Most meningiomas had well-defined margins on CT imaging: 54.5% of patients exhibited isodense lesions on pre-contrast scans, and 64.7% exhibited high-contrast enhancement. Bone destruction developed in 4.1% of patients, while hyperostosis was observed in 17.4%, and calcification was present in 10.3% of the participants. Edema was identified in 65.2% of cases, of which moderate edema was the most common manifestation. CONCLUSION: Meningioma should be highly suspected in female patients aged 40–60 with isodense lesions on pre-contrast CT scans and high-contrast enhancement on post-contrast CT scans. Meningiomas were primarily classified as convexity meningiomas with well-defined margins. The presence of hyperostosis, calcification, and brain edema supported the meningioma diagnosis.