Resection of Invasive Sphenoorbital and Cavernous Sinus Meningioma via Frontotemporal Craniotomy.

ABSTRACT

Sphenoorbital meningiomas require extensive bone removal around the superior and lateral orbital walls, superior orbital fissure, and anterior middle fossa floor. Incomplete resection can lead to recurrence or growth into the cavernous sinus (CS). A 46-year-old woman with a history of childhood leukemia treated with chemotherapy and whole-body radiotherapy had presented to an outside institution in 2004 with headache and vision changes and undergone subtotal resection for right sphenoorbital meningioma. Residual tumor growth caused progressive optic neuropathy, and she underwent multiple orbital decompressions and fractionated radiotherapy. In 2017, she underwent another craniotomy for repeat resection. Additional tumor growth causing neuropathic facial pain syndrome and progressive ophthalmoplegia was treated with orbital enucleation. On referral to our institution, magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated right sphenoorbital and CS meningioma extending into the sella and nearly to the medial border of the contralateral CS. Given her complete ophthalmoplegia and recent orbital enucleation, she underwent revision right frontotemporal craniotomy for radical resection of invasive meningioma, including right internal carotid artery occlusion and CS resection (Video 1). The skull-base defect was repaired with autologous fascia and a free muscle flap. Postoperative transient aphasia and left hemiparesis resolved over several days. At the 1-month follow-up examination, she was neurologically intact, with moderate improvement of facial pain syndrome (preoperative pain score, 9 of 10; postoperative pain score, 6 of 10). Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated gross total resection. Pathological tissue analysis was consistent with grade 1 meningioma with an increased MIB-1 proliferative index, although, clinically, the tumor behaved more malignantly. The patient provided consent.