What is Meningiomatosis?
Meningiomatosis, specifically familial meningiomatosis, is a rare tumor predisposition syndrome characterized by multiple meningiomas. This entity is defined in patients that do not meet diagnostic criteria for the more common neurofibromatosis type 2, which also features a predisposition to meningiomas.
How common are multiple meningiomas?
Multiple meningiomas are found in only 1-10% of patients with meningiomas[5,6] [Figure 1]. It can occur sporadically or as part of a familial syndrome of either neurofibromatosis (NF) type 2 or familial multiple meningioma.
Can you have two meningiomas?
The majority are single. Multiple meningiomas are defined as the presence of ≥ 2 spatially separated synchronous or metachronous lesions, and they occur in up to 10% of meningiomas. 15,18 They can be sporadic, radiation induced, or familial.
Are meningiomas familial?
While the majority of these tumors are sporadic, there are many familial syndromes that place a patient at increased risk for meningioma development. The most well characterized and documented of these genetic syndromes is neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2).
Is a meningioma serious?
Often, meningiomas cause no symptoms and require no immediate treatment. But the growth of benign meningiomas can cause serious problems. In some cases, such growth can be fatal. Meningiomas are the most common type of tumor that originates in the central nervous system.
What is calcified meningioma?
Some meningiomas contain cysts or calcified mineral deposits, and others contain hundreds of tiny blood vessels. Because meningiomas tend to grow inward, they commonly cause pressure on the brain or spinal cord. They can also grow outward causing the skull to thicken (hyperostosis).
Are benign meningiomas hereditary?
Gandhi further explains that meningiomas can affect anyone, but 40 percent occur in adults over age 60. Certain genetic mutations can cause people to have multiple meningiomas, or have these types of brain tumors run in their families, explains Dr. Gandhi.