What Is a Meningioma Brain Tumor?
A meningioma is a tumor that develops in the meninges, which are the protective layers of tissue covering the brain and spinal cord. These tumors originate from the arachnoid cap cells, which are found in the middle layer of the meninges called the arachnoid mater.
Meningiomas are typically slow-growing and often benign (non-cancerous), but their location within the skull can cause various symptoms as they grow and press against the brain or spinal cord. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of meningiomas, including their nature, classification, severity, causes, and treatment options.
What Are the Grades of Meningiomas?
Meningiomas are classified into three grades based on their cellular characteristics and growth patterns:
- Grade I (benign): These are the most common type of meningiomas. Their growth progresses slowly and have a low risk of recurrence after surgical removal.
- Grade II (atypical): They grow more quickly than Grade I tumors and have a higher likelihood of recurrence after treatment.
- Grade III (anaplastic): These are the rarest of meningiomas. They are aggressive, fast-growing tumors with a high rate of recurrence and can potentially spread to other parts of the brain or body.
The grading system helps doctors determine the best course of treatment and predict the likely outcome for patients.
How Serious is a Brain Meningioma?
The seriousness of a meningioma depends on several factors:
- Location: Even benign meningiomas can be serious if they're located in critical areas of the brain, potentially causing significant neurological symptoms.
- Size: Larger tumors are more likely to cause symptoms and may be more challenging to treat.
- Grade: Higher-grade tumors are more serious due to their faster growth and higher recurrence rates.
- Growth rate: Rapidly growing tumors are generally more concerning than slow-growing ones.
- Patient's overall health: The patient's age and general health condition can affect their ability to tolerate treatment and recover.
Common symptoms may include headaches, seizures, vision problems, hearing loss, memory issues, and changes in personality or behavior. In some cases, especially with small, slow-growing tumors that aren't causing symptoms, doctors may recommend a "wait and watch" approach, monitoring the tumor over time. However, even benign meningiomas may require treatment if they're causing symptoms or growing rapidly.
What Causes Meningiomas?
The exact cause of meningiomas is not known. However, exposure to radiation can increase a person’s risk of developing this type of tumor. Also, those with Neurofibromatosis type 2 have a greater risk of developing meningiomas.
Research has also indicated that prolonged exposure to Depo-Provera is associated with the development of meningiomas. Unlike the other causes, drug manufacturer negligence is the reason behind the disease, which opens them up to lawsuits from women who have used the drug, especially those who are long-term recipients of the drug.
Drug manufacturers bear a significant responsibility to ensure the safety of their products. This responsibility extends beyond simply complying with regulatory standards. Companies must conduct rigorous testing and research to identify potential risks and side effects associated with their drugs. Thus, Pfizer and other drug companies have opened themselves up to lawsuits because they failed to consider the risks of Depo-Provera.
Treatment Options
Common treatment options include:
- Observation: For small tumors that aren't causing symptoms, doctors may recommend regular monitoring with MRI scans.
- Surgery: This is often the primary treatment for meningiomas. The goal is to remove as much of the tumor as possible without damaging surrounding brain tissue. In many cases, especially for Grade I tumors, complete surgical removal can be curative.
- Radiation therapy: This may be used after surgery to target any remaining tumor cells or as a primary treatment if surgery is not possible. Stereotactic radiosurgery, which delivers precise, high-dose radiation to the tumor, is often used for smaller meningiomas.
- Chemotherapy: While not typically used for meningiomas, chemotherapy may be considered for aggressive or recurrent tumors that don't respond to other treatments.
- Targeted therapy: Researchers are exploring new targeted therapies that could potentially slow or stop the growth of meningiomas by interfering with specific molecules involved in tumor growth.
Is Your Tumor Linked to Continued Use of Depo-Provera? Contact Us!
Our firm represents clients in cases involving pharmaceutical negligence, including Depo-Provera lawsuits. Should your tumor be linked to continued use of this contraceptive shot, you deserve compensation to help cover medical treatment and other financial losses, as well as your pain and suffering.
Call (860) 245-2412 to schedule a case review today.