Quality of life in patients with meningiomas: the true meaning of "benign".

Health-related quality of life (QOL) is a complex subject that requires assessment of patients' perceptions about their lives after surgery or illness in addition to the perceptions of surgeons about outcomes and radiographic findings. Patients should be asked about the effect of the disease on their work life, relationships, emotional and physical well being, and level of independence. Even the limited available literature makes it clear that the course of treatment of patients with meningiomas can be anything but benign. Future research is required using global QOL scales and disease-specific scales. Because QOL is a multidimensional concept, researchers must select the appropriate QOL scale that best measures the appropriate dimension of health (physical function, emotional well being, and symptoms). This article provides a review of current research on QOL related to the surgical treatment of meningiomas to help increase clinicians' understanding of the complex nature of QOL assessment and how this assessment can be applied to neurosurgical patients.