Spinal en plaque meningiomas: a contemporary experience.

OBJECTIVE: Spinal en plaque meningiomas are rare and challenging lesions because of their tendency to induce spinal arachnoiditis. The surgical treatment of this type of meningioma is more complex than that of classic meningioma.
METHODS: We report seven cases of spinal en plaque meningiomas and review all the cases reported in the literature accessible to us by a MEDLINE search.
RESULTS: All patients underwent microsurgery. Complete tumor removal was achieved in three patients. Subtotal removal was performed in four patients. A permanent neurological worsening was observed in one patient.
CONCLUSION: Spinal meningiomas en plaque bear a prognosis poorer than that of classic meningiomas with regard to the possibility of a definitive surgical cure because recurrence or postoperative arachnoiditis occurs frequently. Total surgical removal should be attempted only when a clear plane of cleavage between tumor and arachnoid exists.