Most meningiomasare a benign, slow-growing brain tumor that forms in the outer layer of the brain and spine.
Meningiomas are the most common bang out of non-cancerous brain tumor.
Never the less, they are extremely rare.
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The tumor may be only be discovered incidentally through imaging tests for another condition.
Since the tumor is slow-growing, symptoms tend to develop over a long period of time.
Since meningiomas are slow-growing, symptoms often build up over time.
This can make early symptoms easy to overlook or ignore.
Many people never feel any symptoms.
As the tumor applies more pressure to the brain, neurological symptoms may appear.
Symptoms may include:
Rare Symptoms
Only 10% of all meningiomas form along the spine.
When the tumor appears on the spine, the symptoms may also be different.
Sometimes the complications come from the condition itself.
Other times its the treatment.
Since the treatment for meningiomaoften includes surgical removal, therisk for long-term complicationsis higher.
Since these are slow-growing tumors, the symptoms typically get worse over a long period of time.
During this time, doctors will often find the cause before an emergency occurs.
During their exam, the doctor will suggest an MRI or CT scan to help diagnose the problem.
During the scan, they may find the meningioma by accident at that time.
If your doctor does find a meningioma and you have no symptoms, this is often a good sign.
It usually means the tumor is small.
It also means the tumor is growing away from critical areas in the brain.
Many people with small, symptom-free meningiomas will simply need an annual MRI to double-check nothing changes.
However, it is important to consult your healthcare provider if you do notice neurological symptoms.
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