Ophthalmologic symptoms in meningioma of the orbits and in the anterior and medial cranial fossa

UNLABELLED: The records of 182 patients treated for a meningioma of the orbit or the periorbital region between 1971 and 1989 were analyzed. PATIENTS: There were 138 women (76%) and 44 men (24%). Twenty patients had a meningioma of the optic nerve sheath, 78 patients a meningioma involving the sphenoid wing, 29 a meningioma within the sella region, 36 patients a meningioma of the anterior cranial fossa and 19 patients a meningioma of the medial cranial fossa. RESULTS: As an initial symptom 53% complained of decreased vision, 25% of headaches and 16% had exophthalmos. At the first ocular examination visual acuity was decreased below 0.1 in 22%. In 58 eyes we found papilledema and in 60 eyes optic atrophy. Other manifestations were visual field defects, ocular motility deficits in 20%. Histologically the meningiomas were most commonly of the endotheliomatous type (72%). In 23% of the patients, the tumor recurred, which manifested itself in a third by ocular symptoms.