Brain oedema in secretory meningiomas.

Brain oedema is usually associated with intracranial meningiomas in about 50-66%. As underlying causes, different factors like localisation, vascular supply, angiogenic growth factors and histological subtypes are discussed, and its existence is probably multifactorial. We present 11 patients with the rare subtype of secretory meningiomas. Brain oedema was observed in 82%. These tumours are localised mainly at the frontal convexity and at the sphenoid ridge. All 11 patients were female so that hormonal factors also may play a role in the production of peritumoural oedema. The postoperative outcome was good and no recurrences were seen during follow-up. Copyright 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.