My experience after craniotomy to remove a meningioma

First: a big thank you to everyone who shared about their experience. I'm scheduled in 25 days, and am absolutely terrified. My "thing" is 1x2.8x3.2 cm and located at the top of my head, left side, next to/near the superior saginal sinus - which is the main vein that drains blood from your head. I am so scared this vein might get nicked, which could trigger a stroke. I'm not having any symptoms other than occasional headache in the morning (but that could just be wildfire smoke (I live in the west). Anyone else have a meningioma in this location? How did you do? thank you all.....

@jvo2020neb1 Because mine was 4cm and I wasn't having any symptoms I weighed the fear of having a stroke or seizure in the future by surprise as a greater evil. I thought it would be an easier recovery from surgery than from a stroke. For me that was correct. I'm 6 weeks out and still tender but doing fine. I just got back from a girls' trip and feel confident in my decision. I'm 62.

@ladytri
Hello, The neurosurgeon will be aware of the proximity to the sagittal sinus and will be extra careful. I had a meningioma that contacted the superior sagittal sinus, fortunately not growing into it. The neurosurgeon’s report specifically stated that he was not as aggressive as he could have been when removing the bits of tumor stuck to the sinus. Good luck with the surgery, you’ll do fine.

@jvo2020neb1 Because mine was 4cm and I wasn't having any symptoms I weighed the fear of having a stroke or seizure in the future by surprise as a greater evil. I thought it would be an easier recovery from surgery than from a stroke. For me that was correct. I'm 6 weeks out and still tender but doing fine. I just got back from a girls' trip and feel confident in my decision. I'm 62.

@lovestocook I love that you just returned from a ‘girl’s’ trip! I’m looking at possible fractionated radiation treatments for my meningioma and have a two trips planned for the spring and fall of 2027. Thanks for the encouragement!

@mkoch

Below is my JULY 30th MRI report stating no significant change in six months. My appointment with the neurosurgeon was yesterday, AUGUST 12th, my neighbor, who is a doctor, accompanied me. Dr. S’s assistant said the tumor grew and that it’s better to get MRI information from the doctor, not the radiology report.

My neurosurgeon, neighbor, and I spent 45 minutes studying and measuring the meningioma on both MRI reports and agreed that the recent images looked and measured about one millimeter larger.

I now have an appointment for a third MRI in February, but will see the UCD radiologist for his opinion this month about fragmented radiation treatments now, or later. I don’t have any symptoms. I’m not claustrophobic and only live 15 minutes from the hospital. Friends, neighbors, and my husband will take me to the 30 appointments. I’m wondering how I will feel after each treatment and how it will affect my active life. Dr. S said the treatments will cause fatigue about two months after the treatments for a short period of time.

Brain: These images again demonstrate left middle cranial fossa dural based avidly enhancing mass around left clinoid process measuring about 1.4 x 1.1 x 1.5 cm (was 1.4 x 1.1 x 1.6 cm retrospectively) not significantly change since previous study within the given difference in technique and slice selection. The mass [and adjacent dural tail] slightly abuts lateral aspect of the prechiasmatic segment of the left optic nerve with no obvious intrinsic signal abnormality at this time. Adjacent dural tail/thickening slightly extends to lateral aspect of the posterior optic canal (11:60). Medial aspect of the mass adjacent to paraclinoid internal carotid artery which is patent and [The] rostral aspect of the mass in close proximity to carotid terminus which has minimally displaced dorsally.

@kdog1957 thank you for your reply. I have added "is this the meningioma around the sagital sinus (in contact with) OR growing into it" to my questions for the pre-op appt. I did not know about the proximity to the sagital sinus until I went for a second opinion. The doc doing the surgery said I may need radiation to follow up with whatever she can't remove surgically. Sounds like you are doing fine - happy for you!

@ladytri
Thank you. I had 30 fractionated radiation treatments 6 months after the surgery. It was kind of a nothing burger, no significant side effects.

@kdog1957 Did you experience fatigue after the radiation treatments?

@vernicek Well it's good that you aren't having any symptoms. I read someplace the meningioma only grows 1 mm a year. Mine was 4 cm when we found it, and I was asyptomatic. It really just depends on where it is located I guess. I did have mine removed even though I didn't have any symptoms. I have had a couple of issues clear after I got it out though, even though my neurosurgeon didn't think they were related, maybe they were related by pressure.