Turkish Neurosurgery
EARLY POSTOPERATIVE ADJUVANT RADIOTHERAPY VERSUS ACTIVE MONITORING AFTER GROSS TOTAL RESECTION FOR ATYPICAL MENINGIOMAS: FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH EARLY RECURRENCE
Muhammet Enes Gurses1, Hatice Yagmur Zengin2, Aysel Shikhaliyeva1, Cengiz Savas Askun3, Melike Mut4
1Hacettepe University, Department of Neurosurgery, Ankara,
2Hacettepe University, Department of Biostatistics, Ankara,
3Middle East Technical University, Department of Computer Education and Instructional Technology,, Ankara,
4University of Virginia, Department of Neurosurgery, Virginia,
DOI: 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.41369-22.1

Aim:Atypical meningiomas (AMs) constitute 18% of meningiomas. Predictors of recurrence are still indeterminate after gross total resection (GTR). The timing of RT, whether to treat with radiation upfront or at initial recurrence, remains controversial after GTR for AMs.Material and Methods:A retrospective study of gross totally resected AMs was conducted in a tertiary care center within ten years. The clinical, radiological, and pathological parameters were analyzed statistically, and the factors associated with recurrence after GTR were determined with univariate analysis. Results:Among 23 AMs with GTR, 34.8% showed recurrence in a median follow-up of 40 months after the surgery. Preoperative tumor volume, tumor location in the skull base or tentorium, and lack of progesterone expression were associated with the higher recurrence rate. AMs with a preoperative volume of 27.5 cm³ were the most significant risk factor for the recurrence (a 9.3-fold increase) than those with <27.5 cm3 (66.7% vs. 14.3%, respectively).Conclusion:Patients diagnosed with larger AMs (> 27.5 cm3) might have higher recurrence rates after GTR and, therefore, would benefit from early adjuvant radiotherapy without waiting for a recurrence. AMs located in the skull base or tentorium and AMs having no progesterone expression might also be potential predictors for recurrence.

Corresponding author : Melike Mut