Clinical outcome and recurrence after meningioma surgery: an experience from a developing country Nepal.

BACKGROUND Meningioma is the most common primary brain tumor, constituting more than half of all benign central nervous system tumors. This study aims to analyze the clinical outcome and recurrence after surgery of intracranial meningioma in Nepal. METHODS This is a retrospective study of newly diagnosed intracranial meningioma patients operated at Nepal Mediciti Hospital between 2007 and 2019. Demographics; clinical, radiologic, and perioperative details; histopathology; and clinical outcome variables were reviewed. Association of independent variables with primary outcome variables: modified Rankin Scale (favorable [≤ 3] vs. unfavorable [>3]) and recurrence was analyzed. Logistic regression model was designed to calculate adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS Of 233 patients, mean age was 47 years, female individuals were affected twice as much as male individuals. Location was supratentorial in 83.3%, 83.7% had tumor greater than 5 cm in size. Gross total resection (SM 0-III) was achieved in 85.4%. A total of 98.7% had grade I meningioma. Favorable outcome was found in 94.8%. Recurrence rate was 6.9%. Tumor size less than 3 cm (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.024 95% CI 0.001-0.416, P = 0.010), gross total resection (AOR 19.737, 95% CI 4.69-83.063, P < 0.001), and comorbidity (AOR 0.202, 95% CI 0.052-0.785, P = 0.021) were significantly associated with favorable outcome whereas age (AOR 3.491, 95% CI 1.029-11.850, P = 0.045) and WHO grade (AOR 0.024, 95% CI 0.002-0.344, P = 0.006) were independently associated with recurrence. The complication and surgical mortality rates were 30% and 1.72%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Tumor size, extent of resection, age, tumor grade, and medical comorbidities were significantly associated with postoperative outcome. We recommend a prospective study with standardized follow up protocol to assess the long-term outcome.