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Symptoms of the Condition of Meningioma

Meningioma is a tumor that stems from the meninges, which are membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. Meningioma most often grows slowly and can sometimes be malignant. There are different types of meningiomas, and there are also several symptoms of the condition of meningioma. Some of the common symptoms of meningioma include headaches that can get worse over time, seizures, hearing or memory loss, arm or leg weakness, vision changes (blurry or double vision) and nausea or vomiting.

  1. Convexity Meningioma Symptoms

    • Convexity meningioma is a tumor growth on the brain's surface. Symptoms include headaches, seizures, mental changes and focal neurological deficits. Focal neurological deficits affect nerve function at a certain area of the body, such as the right leg, or with a certain bodily function, such as loss of sensation.

    Suprasellar and Intraorbital Meningioma Symptoms

    • Both of these meningiomas affect the eye. Suprasellar meningioma involves optic disk swelling, which is where the nerves join to form the optic nerve in the retina area of the eye. Vision problems are symptoms of this type of meningioma.

      Intraorbital meningioma grows around the eye sockets and can cause a buildup of pressure. Symptoms include eye bulging and increased vision loss.

    Falx and Parasagittal Meningioma Symptoms

    • Falx and parasagittal meningiomas develop from the dural fold (falx) between the right and left sides of the brain. It can be dangerous to remove a tumor in this area, since two large blood vessels are contained in the falx. A symptom of this type of meningioma is leg weakness.

    Spinal Meningioma Symptoms

    • Spinal meningioma develops within the dura mater (intradural) or outside the medulla (extramedullary). These tumors grow mostly in the thoracic, or upper back area, of the spine. Spinal meningioma symptoms include back pain and pain in the arms, legs or chest from compressed nerves.

    Sphenoid & Olfactory Groove Meniongioma Symptoms

    • Sphenoid meningioma develops behind the eyes and along the sphenoid ridge (the body of the butterfly-shaped bone at the base of the skull). This type of tumor can be tricky to remove since certain parts of this area, such as the carotid arteries or the cavernous sinus, provide a blood supply to the brain. Sphenoid meningioma symptoms include sensation loss, facial numbness and vision problems, such as double vision, blindness or missing patches in the field of vision.

      Like the name suggests, olfactory groove meningioma will grow along the olfactory ("smelling") nerves that run between the nose and the brain. As such, loss of smell can be one of the symptoms of olfactory groove meningioma. Tumors that grow big enough for the nerves of the eyes to become compressed may cause vision symptoms, such as reduced vision or possibly even blindness.

    Posterior Fossa Meningioma Symptoms

    • Posterior fossa meningiomas develop under the brain near the cerebellum and the brainstem. Hearing loss or facial symptoms can occur if the tumor compresses the cranial nerves. These facial symptoms include facial numbness, sharp facial pain and facial muscle spasms. Additional posterior meningioma symptoms may include trouble walking, hearing loss and swallowing difficulties.

    Intraventricular Meningioma Symptoms

    • With intraventricular meningioma, a tumor grows within the fluid-filled ventricles that are deep within the brain. The tumor may block cerebrospinal fluid, which can result in a buildup of pressure. Symptoms can develop, including dizziness, mental changes and headaches.

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