Olfactory groove meningiomas: surgical technique and follow-up review.

BACKGROUND Olfactory groove meningiomas comprise 4-10% of the intracranial meningiomas. Generally they give signs of brain compression due to great size they reach before diagnosis. In this study, the clinical outcome of patients with olfactory groove meningiomas surgically treated was analyzed. METHOD 17 patients operated on from 1988-2006. Female: 16, Male: 1. Age: 19-76 years-old (mean=53.12 +/- 13.11). FOLLOW-UP 1-209 months (mean=51.07 +/- 12.73. Bifrontal/bifrontal-bi-orbital approaches were used. Outcome was analyzed using survival/recurrence-free Kaplan-Mayer curves. RESULTS 16 had WHO grade 1; one grade 2 meningiomas. Resection Simpson's grade 1 was in achieved in 64.7%, grade 2 in 29.4% and grade 3 in 5.9%. There was no recurrence during the follow-up. Global and operative mortality were 11.8%. Main postoperative complications were osteomyelitis (11.8%) and pneumonia (5.9%). CONCLUSION Extensive approaches allowed total resection of most olfactory groove meningiomas with no recurrence during the follow-up, but operative mortality and local complications were high.