The clinical and radiological features of intracranial meningiomas in Kenyatta National Hospital - Kenya

Abstract

The clinical and radiological features of meningioma in 56 patients with a histological proof of meningioma are presented. Generally there was no marked difference from that presented in the literature on this tumour. There were more female patients than male patients and the peak age incidence was in the 5th decade. An association between meningioma and pregnancy was noted but trauma to the skull was found t.o have no association with this tumor whatsoever . Most patients had symptoms lasting one year or less. The most common symptoms were headache, impaired vision and convulsions while reduced visual acuity and features of raised intracranial pressure were the main abnormal physical findings. Convexity meningioma were the most frequent followed by sphenoid ridge meningiomas. Hyperostosis of the skull and the typical tumour 'blushl of meningioma were found to be the most useful diagnostic markers, Plain skull radiography and carotid angiography were found to be adequate diagnostic methods in the diagnosis of meningiomas and the introduction of other modalities of examination such as computerized Axial Tomography or Nuclear magnetic Resonance Imaging would probably be of little extra benefit in as far as meningiomas are concerned.