Primary intraosseous meningiomas of the skull base.

Four cases of primary intraosseous meningiomas were seen among 373 cases of intracranial meningiomas operated upon in the Neurosurgical Clinic of the Krankenhaus Nordstadt, Hannover, FRG between January 1978 and December 1988. These 4 cases represent 1% of all intracranial meningiomas. Patients' age ranged between 21 and 66 years; 2 were females and 2 males. Presenting symptoms were localized orbital pain in 1 case, protrusion of the eye in 1 patient, pain in the orbit and forehead and protrusion of the eye in 1 patient, and peripheral facial palsy in 1 case. Symptoms lasted between 3 and 10 years. Two tumours were in the bony orbit, 1 in the bony orbit and in the frontal bone and 1 in the temporal bone. All tumours were surgically completely removed. All patients are clinically and computer tomography free of tumour 1 to 8 years after the operation.