Early Preventive Strategies and CNS Meningioma - Is This Feasible? A Comprehensive Review of the Literature.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Meningiomas are one of the most common benign primary brain tumors; however, there is a paucity of literature on potential preventability. This comprehensive review aimed to explore the existing evidence for the potential risk factors that may contribute to meningioma development and to discuss early prevention strategies. METHODS: Literature search was conducted via MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Database to retrieve existing literature on various environmental exposures and lifestyle behaviors that are potential risk factors for the development of meningiomas. RESULTS: Significant risk factors included exposure to ionizing radiation and certain environmental chemicals. Notably, this study also identified that cigarette smoking and obesity are associated with the development of meningiomas. To date, wireless phone usage, hormonal exposures, dietary factors, and traumatic brain injury remain inconclusive. Early prevention strategies should primarily be family-driven, community-based, and public health-endorsed strategies. Targeting unhealthy behaviors through healthcare organizations could execute a pivotal role in the maintenance of an optimum lifestyle, reducing the development of risk factors pertinent to meningiomas. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first study that offers a perspective on prevention of meningiomas. A causal relationship of risk factors in developing meningiomas cannot be directly established with the current evidence. We are aware of the limitations of the hypothesis, but we believe that this study will raise more awareness and our findings could potentially be endorsed by organizations promoting health across the globe. Further prospective and retrospective studies will shed more light on this topic and help establish a definitive relationship.