Foramen magnum meningioma
Foramen magnum meningiomas (FMMs) are slow growing, posterior fossa meningiomas most often intradural and extramedullar. They are those arising anteriorly from the inferior third of the clivus to the superior edge of the C2 body, laterally from the jugular tubercle to the C2 laminae, and posteriorly from the anterior border of the occipital squama to the spinous process of C2 1) 2) 3).
Epidemiology
They represent 2% of all meningiomas 4).
The mean age of the patients with these lesions at the time of diagnosis is approximately 55 years old, but these tumors have been reported in patients of almost every age 5) 6) 7) 8) 9).
Classification
Pathology
They have traditionally been said to involve the lower third of the clivus and the C1 C2 area. However, the last categorizations are arbitrary.
There are some tumors that involve the entire clivus, and others that involve the mid and lower third of the clivus. (The upper clivus is the area above the trigeminal root, the mid-clivus extends to the level of the glossopharyngeal nerve, and the lower clivus is the region below the glossopharyngeal nerve).
Clinical Features
The indolent clinical course of FMMs and their insidious onset of symptoms are important factors that contribute to delayed diagnosis and relative large size at the time of presentation. Symptoms are often produced by compression of surrounding structures (such as the medulla oblongata, upper cervical spinal cord, lower cranial nerves, and vertebral artery) within a critically confined space
Diagnosis
Differential Diagnosis
see Foramen Magnum Tuberculoma
IgG4-related hypertrophic pachymeningitis 10).
Primary Meningeal Melanocytoma 11)
Treatment
Case series
Case reports
Videos
Matsoukas S, Oemke H, Lopez LS, Gilligan J, Tabani H, Bederson JB. Suboccipital Craniectomy for an Anterior Foramen Magnum Meningioma-Optimization of Resection Using Intraoperative Augmented Reality: 2-Dimensional Operative Video. Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown). 2022 Nov 1;23(5):e321. doi: 10.1227/ons.0000000000000373. Epub 2022 Aug 8. PMID: 36103323.
Emerson SN, Toczylowski M, Al-Mefty O. Dejerine Syndrome Variant Due to Medullary Perforating Artery Ischemia During Foramen Magnum Meningioma Resection: 2-Dimensional Operative Video. Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown). 2022 Jul 1;23(1):e52-e53. doi: 10.1227/ons.0000000000000211. Epub 2022 Apr 20. PMID: 35726936. Danish B, Costello MC, Patel NV, Higgins DMO, Komotar RJ, Ivan ME. Commentary: Dejerine Syndrome Variant Due to Medullary Perforating Artery Ischemia During Foramen Magnum Meningioma Resection: 2-Dimensional Operative Video. Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown). 2022 Sep 1;23(3):e205-e206. doi: 10.1227/ons.0000000000000336. Epub 2022 Jul 11. PMID: 35972118.
Danish B, Costello MC, Patel NV, Higgins DMO, Komotar RJ, Ivan ME. Commentary: Dejerine Syndrome Variant Due to Medullary Perforating Artery Ischemia During Foramen Magnum Meningioma Resection: 2-Dimensional Operative Video. Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown). 2022 Sep 1;23(3):e205-e206. doi: 10.1227/ons.0000000000000336. Epub 2022 Jul 11. PMID: 35972118.
Medina EJ, Revuelta Barbero JM, Porto E, Garzon-Muvdi T, Henriquez O, Solares CA, Pradilla G. Exoscopic and Microscopic Combined Far Lateral Retrocondylar Approach for Resection of a Ventral Foramen Magnum Lesion: 2-Dimensional Operative Video. Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown). 2022 Aug 1;23(2):e126. doi: 10.1227/ons.0000000000000250. Epub 2022 May 9. PMID: 35838470.
Jeelani Y, Ibn Essayed W, Al-Mefty O. Extended Transcondylar Approach With C-1 Lateral Mass Resection for the Removal of a Calcified Ventral “Spinocranial” Meningioma: 2-Dimensional Operative Video. Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown). 2022 Aug 1;23(2):e117-e118. doi: 10.1227/ons.0000000000000278. Epub 2022 May 9. PMID: 35838463.
Essayed W, Aboud E, Al-Mefty O. Foramen Magnum Meningioma-The Attainment of the Intra-Arachnoidal Dissection: 2-Dimensional Operative Video. Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown). 2021 Nov 15;21(6):E518-E519. doi: 10.1093/ons/opab317. PMID: 34498699.
Campero A, Baldoncini M, Villalonga JF, Paíz M, Giotta Lucifero A, Luzzi S. Transcondylar Fossa Approach for Resection of Anterolateral Foramen Magnum Meningioma: 2-Dimensional Operative Video. World Neurosurg. 2021 Oct;154:91-92. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2021.07.058. Epub 2021 Jul 21. PMID: 34303002.