Transorbital Neuro-Endoscopic Resection of Sphenoid Wing Meningioma Without Lateral Orbitotomy

Cushing and Eisenhardt were the first to describe sphenoid wing meningiomas in detail, categorizing globoid tumors into 3 groups: 1) medial; 2) middle; and 3) lateral. The authors review their experience with resection of sphenoid wing meningiomas at a single center, to examine whether this classification predicts clinical presentation and postsurgical outcome. All patients undergoing resection of sphenoid wing meningioma at the authors' institution over a 9-year period were identified. Clinical data were compared from patients with tumors arising at different points along the sphenoid wing to determine if these tumors behaved differently in terms of symptoms, radiographic characteristics, and postsurgical outcome. A total of 56 patients underwent microsurgical resection for sphenoid wing meningioma during this period. The rates of optic canal invasion (medial 50% vs middle 5% vs lateral 0%; p<0.0001, chi-square test), supraclinoid internal carotid artery encasement (medial 32% vs middle 5% vs lateral 0%; p<0.01, chi-square test), and middle cerebral artery encasement (medial 45% vs middle 24% vs lateral 0%; p<0.01, chi-square test) were all highest with medial-third tumors. New or worsened neurological deficits occurred in 10 (19%) of 56 patients. Of all the imaging characteristics studied, only location of the tumor along the medial third of the sphenoid wing significantly predicted an increased rate of new or worsened neurological deficit (OR 2.7, p<0.05). The authors report outcomes in a large series of sphenoid wing meningiomas that were treated using modern surgical techniques.

Minimally Invasive Lateral Orbital Wall Approach for Sphenocavernous Meningioma Resection with Endoscope Assistance

We present a case of proptosis with headache, decrease in vision and orbital pain where patient underwent sphenoid-orbital decompression, and excision of mass, resulting in significant improvement in her vision with complete resolution of proptosis, headache and orbital pain. This study was done to diagnose and evaluate clinical outcome of hyperostotic sphenoid wing meningioma with orbital involvement after surgery. A 40 year-female presented with severe headache, right eye swelling, periorbital pain and decreasing in vision for two years, and right eye proptosis more severe for three months. She underwent right frontotemporal craniotomy with removal of hyperostotic sphenoid wing and excision of meningioma after magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a right sphenoid wing meningioma extending orbital and middle cranial fossa. She had improvement of her symptoms post-operatively. Surgical decompression of orbit with total resection of meningioma and sphenoid wing hyperostosis can result in significant improvement in the vision and proptosis.

Commentary: Resection of Cavernous Sinus Meningioma via Lateral Orbitotomy Approach: 2-Dimensional Operative Video.

Objective Sphenoid wing meningiomas (SWMs) can present surgical challenges, in that they are often obscured by overlying brain, encase critical neurovascular structures, and obliterate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cisterns. While brain retraction can enable access, its use can have potentially deleterious effects. We report the benefits and outcomes of the criteria we have developed for use of cerebrospinal diversion to perform retractorless surgery for SWMs. Design Technical report. Setting Yale School of Medicine and Yale New Haven Hospital. Participants Between May, 2019 and December, 2020, ten consecutive patients were included who met the presented criteria for SWM surgery with preoperative lumbar drain (LD) placement. Main Outcome Measures Length of hospital stay, surgical complications, and extent of resection. Results We have developed the following criteria for LD placement in patients with SWMs such that LDs are preoperatively placed in patients with tumors with one or more of the following criteria: (1) medial location along the sphenoid wing, (2) vascular encasement resulting in obliteration of the optic carotid cistern and/or proximal sylvian fissure, and/or (3) the presence of associated edema. CSF release, after craniotomy and sphenoid wing removal, allowed for optimization of exposure, leading to the maximal safe extent of tumor resection without brain retraction or any complications. Conclusions Preoperative LD placement is effective in allowing for maximal extent of resection of SWMs and may be considered in cases where local CSF release is not possible. This technique is useful in those tumors located more medially, with encasement of the vasculature and/or associated with edema.

To conduct a quantitative analysis of orbit volume at different stages of preparation and surgical treatment of patients with cranio-orbital meningiomas undergoing resection with simultaneous orbital wall reconstruction using 3D modeling and 3D printing technologies. A prospective cohort non-randomized study included 24 patients with cranio-orbital meningiomas. The volumes were measured by segmenting the orbital structures using the planimetric method in the Inobitec PRO software package. Three expert neurosurgeons independently performed these measurements. The implants were modeled in Blender software. We used the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and global similarity index (GSI) to analyze interrater agreement and ensure reproducibility of analysis. Interrater agreement on orbital markings was very high for both metrics (ICC and GSI). The ICC (A,3) for intact orbit volume was 0.99 (95% CI 0.981; 0.996, p=1.9962018^{-33}), 0.99 (95% CI 0.983; 0.996, p=1.903203^{-34}) for damaged orbit volume at the preoperative stage, 0.99 (95% CI 0.979; 0.995, p=3.5939828^{-32}) for damaged orbit volume at the stage of modeling of resection and reconstruction, 0.99 (95% CI 0.978; 0.995, p=1.1048941^{-30}) for damaged orbit volume in postoperative period. The ICC for measurements related to EI was 0.94-0.97 (very high). This analysis revealed a strong inverse relationship between EI and volume index at the preoperative stage (rho= -0.55, p=0.004987), as well as between dynamics of EI and volume indexes in perioperative period (rho= -0.59, p=0.003). We found significant relationship (p=0.006757) between implant displacement in the area of lateral orbital wall and differences of actual and theoretical volumes. The proposed method of planimetric contouring and segmentation of orbital volumes is highly accurate and reproducible. Significant patterns allow us to develop predictive models for preliminary calculation of target volume of the damaged orbit.

This case report highlights a possible consequence of damage to the left frontoinsular region. A 53-year-old woman with chronic obesity and headaches presented with seizure, leading to the discovery and resection of a large sphenoid wing meningioma. Postoperative brain imaging revealed loss of the left frontoinsular cortex and portions of the underlying white matter, claustrum, and striatum. Throughout her adult life, this patient had tried and failed to lose weight, but after surgery, she no longer desired to eat large meals, and without effort, her body mass index decreased from 38.6 (85th percentile) to 24.9 (25th percentile). Combined with previous research implicating the insular cortex in interoception, appetite, and drug-related urges, her reduced hunger and effortless weight loss after resection of the left frontoinsular cortex suggest that this region of the human brain may play a role in hunger-related urges that contribute to overeating.

The authors reviewed the surgical experience and operative technique in a series of 11 patients with middle fossa tumors who underwent surgery using the transzygomatic approach and intraoperative neuromonitoring (IOM) at a single institution. This approach was applied to trigeminal schwannomas (n = 3), cavernous angiomas (n = 3), sphenoid wing meningiomas (n = 3), a petroclival meningioma (n = 1), and a hemangiopericytoma (n = 1). An osteotomy of the zygoma, a low-positioned frontotemporal craniotomy, removal of the remaining squamous temporal bone, and extradural drilling of the sphenoid wing made a flat trajectory to the skull base. Total resection was achieved in 9 of 11 patients. Significant motor pathway damage can be avoided using a change in motor-evoked potentials as an early warning sign. Four patients experienced cranial nerve palsies postoperatively, even though free-running electromyography of cranial nerves showed normal responses during the surgical procedure. A simple transzygomatic approach provides a wide surgical corridor for accessing the cavernous sinus, petrous apex, and subtemporal regions. Knowledge of the middle fossa structures is essential for anatomic orientation and avoiding injuries to neurovascular structures, although a neuronavigation system and IOM helps orient neurosurgeons.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of sphenoid wing meningioma with periorbital invasion (PI) after operation. MethodsSixty one patients with sphenoid wing meningioma were enrolled in this study. Their clinical conditions were monitored after the operation and followed up more than 5 years at the outpatient clinic of a single institution. Clinical and radiologic information of the patients were all recorded including the following parameters : presence of PI, presence of peri-tumor structure invasion, pathologic grade, extents of resection, presence of hyperostosis, exophthalmos index (EI), and surgical complications. We compared the above clinical parameters of the patients with sphenoid wing meningioma in the presence or absence of PI (non-PI), then linked the analyzed data with the clinical outcome of the patients. ResultsOf 61 cases, there were 14 PI and 47 non-PI patients. PI group showed a significantly higher score of EI (1.37±0.24 vs. 1.00±0.01, p<0.001), more frequent presence of hyperostosis (85.7% vs. 14.3%, p<0.001), and lower rate of gross total resection (GTR) (35.7% vs. 68.1%, p=0.032). The lower score of pre-operative EI, the absence of both PI and hyperostosis, smaller tumor size, and the performance of GTR were associated with lower recurrence rates in the univariate analysis. However, in the multivariate analysis, the performance of GTR was the only significant factor to determine the recurrence rate (p=0.043). The incidences of surgical complications were not statistically different between the subtotal resection (STR) and GTR groups, but it was strongly associated tumor size (p=0.017). ConclusionThe GTR group showed lower recurrence rate than the STR group without differences in the surgical complications. Therefore, the GTR is strongly recommended to treat sphenoid wing meningioma with PI for the better clinical outcome.

Pretemporal Transcavernous Approach to Cavernous Sinus Meningioma with Suprasellar Extension Synchronous with Sphenoid Wing Meningioma: Operative Technique: 2-Dimensional Operative Video.

To review a group of patients with sphenoid wing meningioma and visual impairment. The technique and results for endoscopic transnasal decompression of the orbital apex is presented. Patients presenting between 1993 and 2004 with visual impairment due to sphenoid wing meningioma were identified. All patients had full ophthalmic assessment, automated visual field testing, and appropriate orbital imaging. Patients with clinical evidence of significant progression in visual impairment (loss of acuity, reduced colour discrimination, or field deterioration) underwent endoscopic transnasal orbital decompression. Assessment of visual function (Snellen acuity, Ishihara colour perception, and visual field testing), together with other measures of orbital structure and function (ocular balance, ductions, and exophthalmometry). Twelve patients (all women) presented to the Orbital Clinic between the ages of 38 and 71 years (mean 42.6; median 48.5 years) and with symptoms for an average of 32 months (3-102 months; median 22). The most common symptom was swelling and proptosis, in 11 (91%) patients, and subjective deterioration of vision had been noted in six cases (50%). Eight right orbits (67%) were affected and the preoperative acuity varied between Snellen 6/5 and counting fingers, with visual field impairment in all cases. There was an average of 5.0 mm of axial proptosis (range 5-9 mm; median 5). Endoscopic decompression was without complication in all cases. With a follow-up interval of 33.9 months (range 5-80; median 26 months), there was a subjective and objective improvement in visual functions-with Snellen acuity improving between 1 and 4 lines in seven patients, reduction in relative afferent pupillary defect in 10/12 patients, and improved visual field testing. There was a 2.3 mm reduction in proptosis (1-4 mm; median 3 mm) with less lid swelling, improved ocular balance and motility in four patients, and slightly worse diplopia in one patient. Three patients required further procedures: one had ipsilateral middle meatal antrostomy for retained secretions at 18 months and two had strabismus surgery. Three patients underwent fractionated radiotherapy for large tumours, or for late tumour growth and recurrent visual impairment. Orbital decompression by transnasal endoscopic ethmoidectomy appears to alleviate optic nerve compression due to sphenoid wing meningioma, with a reasonable relief of the condition for some years. Some patients will require later radiotherapy for progressive tumour growth or visual failure.

Chapter 5 - Hyperostosing sphenoid wing meningiomas

Sphenoid wing meningiomas are generally considered as skull base meningiomas (SBMs). However, given their surgical similarities with non-skull base meningiomas (NSBMs), we hypothesized that lateral sphenoid wing meningiomas (LSWMs) without bone invasion (BI) should be considered as NSBMs. N = 65 LSWMs without BI operated between 1990 to 2010 at a single-center were compared to N = 352 NSBMs, represented by convexity meningiomas (CMs), and to N = 23 SBMs, represented by spheno-orbital meningiomas (SOMs), with respect to baseline demographics, clinical presentations, Simpson grades, complications, adjuvant therapies, as well as overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Only WHO grade I meningiomas were included. No significant differences in baseline demographics, clinical presentation, or pre-operative KPS were found between the three groups. Simpson grade 1-3 was achieved in 90.1% of LSWMs, 97.1% in CMs (p = 0.05), and 82.6% in SOMs (p = 0.23). There were no significant differences in postoperative infection, hematoma, neurological worsening, 30-day mortality, or OS between the three groups. Lower re-treatment rates were observed in LSWMs and CMs compared to SOMs (p = 0.06). With respect to PFS, there was no significant difference between LSWMs and CMs (89.1% and 88.5% at 5years, respectively), whereas PFS was significantly higher in LSWMs than in SOMs (79% at 5years) (p = 0.05). LSWMs without BI should be considered as an intermediate entity between NSBMs and SBMs. LSWMs are similar to SOMs with respect to extent of resection, but more similar to CMs with respect to re-treatment rates and PFS.

Sphenoid Wing Meningiomas: Single-Center Surgical Outcomes and Factors Associated with Resection Extent

Background: Surgery for skull base lesions is often time-consuming. In this research, we aimed to improve the efficiency of transorbital neuroendoscopic surgery (TONES) for skull base lesions, specifically sphenoid wing meningiomas, by reducing operative time without compromising patient safety or surgical outcomes. Methods: A simultaneous two-team surgical approach was developed, combining medial endonasal and lateral transorbital techniques. One team performed medial endonasal optic canal decompression, while the other conducted a lateral transorbital middle cranial fossa approach through a superior eyelid incision. Teams worked concurrently, pausing only during critical stages of medial optic nerve decompression to prevent interference. Results: The two-team approach demonstrated a significant reduction in operative time compared to sequential techniques. This method allowed for a comprehensive tumour resection and optic nerve decompression within a single procedure, achieving minimal morbidity and a rapid recovery for patients. Conclusion: The simultaneous two-team approach enhances the efficiency of TONES for sphenoid wing meningiomas and similar skull base lesions. Contribution: This technique offers a practical and safe solution to streamline complex multiportal surgeries while maintaining optimal clinical outcomes.