Foramen Magnum Meningioma: a Case Report and Review of Literature

Abstract

Introduction:

Meningiomas are slow-growing benign tumors that arise at any location where arachnoid cells reside. Although meningiomas account for a sizable proportion of all primary intracranial neoplasms (14.3–19%), only 1.8 to 3.2% arise at the foramen magnum. Their indolent development at the craniocervical junction makes clinical diagnosis complex and often leads to a long interval between onset of symptoms and diagnosis.

Case report:

We report a case of a 79-year-old male patient, presented with ataxia and sense of threatening fainting during verticalization. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed the presence of meningioma in the right side of craniospinal junction.

1. INTRODUCTION

Meningiomas are extra-axial central nervous system (CNS) tumors that arise from the arachnoid cells of the dura mater. Meningiomas represent 14.3-19% of all intracranial tumors, the most common non-glial primary intracranial tumor(1, 2). They have an annual incidence of six per 100,000 people. An estimated 1-2% of the population has incidental asymptomatic meningiomas, and in autopsy studies 8% of these are multiple. The vast majority of meningiomas are benign, slow growing tumors that occur more frequently in women (3-5). The 2:1 female/male ratio observed for intracranial meningiomas is consistent with the increased incidence of meningiomas in post-menopausal women treated with exogenous hormone replacement (6).

Although there are several histological classification systems for meningiomas, the most commonly used is that of the WHO. Benign meningiomas are classified as WHO Grade I, and account for 90% of cases, whereas atypical (Grade II) and anaplastic (Grade III) meningiomas account for 6% and 2% of cases respectively. Only 1.8-3.2% of all meningiomas are located at foramen magnum (FM). Foramen magnum meningiomas (FMMs) represent a common histological tumor in a rare and eloquent location. As these tumors are indolent, there occurs a long interval between onset of symptoms and diagnosis (3-5). We report a case of FMM in male patient who presented with ataxia and sense of threatening fainting during verticalization.

2. CASE REPORT

A 79-year-old male was admitted to the Department of Neurology from Department of Cardio surgery because of ataxia and sense of threatening fainting during verticalization.

His past medical history was significant. He suffered a stroke 11 years ago with complete recovery. He suffered two myocardial infarctions and after the second infarction there was performed aorto-coronar bypass. Two days after the surgery, that has gone without complication, was noticed that the patient still suffers from inability of verticalization with symptoms of threatening fainting in attempts to sit up. In lying position the patient has no neurologic symptoms.

When he was admitted to Department of Neurology, due to the medical history, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed. The imaging revealed the presence of intradural meningioma in the right side of FM (Figure 1). The color Doppler flow inversion revealed very weakened flow in right internal carotid artery, with further significant decline in the flow during the rotation to the left, and a highly significant decrease flow upon rotation to the right and when the patient is sitting.

Figure 1.

MRI shows intradural meningioma in the right side of foramen magnum, with 2.3×1.3 cm in size

Neurosurgeon has suggested that the further treatment should be performed with “gamma knife” radiosurgery in University Hospital Center Zagreb.

3. DISCUSSION

FMM are those arising anteriorly from the inferior third of the clivus to the superior edge of the C2 body, laterally from the jugular tubercle to the C2 laminae, and posteriorly from the anterior border of the occipital squama to the spinal process of C2 (7-9). The mean age of the patients with these lesions at the time of diagnosis is approximately 55 years old, but these tumors have been reported in patients of almost every age (5, 6, 10-12). Although a FMM occurs in children (13). FM contains several critical neuroanatomical and vascular structures. The neural structures include the cerebellar tonsils, inferior vermis, fourth ventricle, caudal aspect of the medulla, lower cranial nerves (CNs) (IX–XII), rostral aspect of the spinal cord, and upper cervical nerves (C-1 and C-2). CN IX through CN XI arise as a series of rootlets along the anterior medulla, with the spinal component of the CN XI arising midway between the anterior and posterior spinal rootlets of the spinal cord. The spinal accessory rootlets coalesce and ascend rostral to join the CN IX, X, and the cranial portion of the CN XI. Together, these nerves exit the skull through the jugular foramen. CN XII exits the medulla more anteriorly than the other lower CNs and passes anterior to the ipsilateral vertebral artery (VA) on its course to the hypoglossal canal, located within the superior and anterior–most portion of the occipital condyle.

Major arterial structures located within the FM include the VAs, posterior inferior cerebellar arteries (PICAs), anterior and posterior spinal arteries, and the meningeal branches of the vertebral, external, and internal carotid arteries. The VA courses through the foramen tranversalis until reaching C-1 where it curves above the lateral aspect of the posterior arch and proceeds rostral to pierce the dura mater just inferior to the lateral edge of the FM adjacent to the occipital condyle. Its intradural portion typically gives rise to the posterior spinal artery and PICA, although the origin of the PICA has been reported to vary, arising at, above, or below the FM (9, 14-18). Based on the compartment of development FMMs can be classified in intradural, extradural or intra- and extradural. Most of the time, FMMs are strictly intradural. Ten percent have an extradural extension, then they are intra- and extradural, and a few may be entirely extradural (8, 9, 19). Based on MRI examination, according to the insertion on the dura, FMMs can be classified as anterior if insertion is on both sides of the anterior midline, lateral if insertion is between the midline and the dentate ligament, and posterolateral if insertion is posterior to the dentate ligament. Anterior FMMs displacing the neuroaxis posteriorly, lateral displacing the neuroaxis posterolaterally, and posterolateral displacing the neuroaxis ventrolaterally (8, 9, 11).

The spinal dentate ligament delineates the anterior and posterior compartments but there is a report of meningioma originating from the dentate ligament (20). Anterior and lateral FMMs are more frequent than posterolateral FMMs (5, 6, 8, 19). FMMs having the possibility to develop above, below, and on both sides of the VA. Meningiomas are more often located below the VA. In this case, the lower CNs are always pushed cranially and posteriorly. On the other hand, if the lesion grows above the VA, the position of the lower CNs cannot be anticipated; the nerves may be displaced separately in any direction. In case of tumoral development on both sides of the VA, a similar problem may exist with the position of the lower CNs. Moreover, the dura around the VA penetration may be infiltrated by the tumor (8, 9, 19).

The lesion is often large when discovered because of their slow-growing rate, their indolent development, the difficulty of the diagnosis leading to a long interval since the first symptom, and the wide subarachnoid space at this level (14). The clinical presentation of FMM is protean, and the mean length of symptoms prior to diagnosis is 30.8 months, even in the era of MRI(8, 14). Trauma to the head or neck occasionally caused these tumors to manifest themselves before they otherwise would have been detected (21). Indeed, prior to the advent of advanced imaging technologies, patients with FM tumors were frequently misdiagnosed with a variety of disorders including multiple sclerosis, cervical spondylosis, a herniated cervical disk and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis because of the uncommon symptoms caused by the anterior location of the lesion(22, 23). Signs and symptoms presented at admission are unusual, atypical, slowly progressing, and, often, remitting.

The first category of the symptoms includes occipital and posterior cervical pain and hyperesthesia in the C2 dermatome (5, 10, 24-28). This pain is the most salient initial manifestation of the tumor, usually exacerbated by neck manipulation or by maneuvers that raise the intracranial pressure, such as coughing, straining, or sneezing(21, 29). The second category of the symptoms includes limb weakness and sensory deficits (5, 10, 24-28). Classic FM syndrome is defined by development of unilateral arm sensory and motor deficits, which progress to the ipsilateral leg, then the contralateral leg, and finally contralateral upper extremity(14, 30). Gait disturbances, diplopia, dysphagia, dysarthria, dyspnea, sphincter disturbances, vomiting, nausea are some of the common symptoms (5, 10, 24-28). The most common neurological sign is hyperreflexia, followed by weakness of the extremities in all combinations (hemiparesis/plegia, quadriparesis/plegia) and sensory loss. The Babinski sign, a gait disturbances, or lower CN (IX-XI) palsies are present in approximately half of patients with this tumor. CN XI is most commonly affected, presented by the shoulder weakness because of atrophy of sternocleidomastoids and trapezius muscles. Dissociated sensory loss, loss of coordination in the hands, Brown-Sequard syndrome, down-beating nystagmus, and nuchal rigidity and tenderness occur in one quarter to one third of patients. Papilledema, Horner’s syndrome, and dysarthria are less common neurological findings (25). MRI is the most useful method in preoperative diagnosis, and it is helpful to precisely delimit the dural attachment zone and tumor relation to neural and vascular structures. Cerebral angiography should also be performed to confirm the feeding vessels and if highly vascularized tumor is suspected (9, 25, 31).

FMM affect the cerebrovascular system, but there is no case reports of FMM presented as threatening fainting during verticalization. We present a unique symptomatology of the FMM. The relationship of the tumor to neighboring structures, i.e., the VA in particular, determines its resectability but also influence the clinical presentation (24). The rate of VA encasement can be 33-61% (4, 5, 32-34). FMM can appears in the form of the initial symptoms of a pontine stroke due to a vascular disorder but also tumors in close proximity to the ventrolateral medulla oblongata may induce neurogenic hypertension, similar to neurovascular compression (35-37).

4. CONCLUSION

In this case, thorough history and physical examination with subsequent imaging allowed for definitive therapy with full resumption of the patient’s normal daily activities. Because of its rarity prompt diagnosis of the compressive lesion is difficult and hence may be delayed. The early diagnosis of compressive lesions is important not only because this offers the possibility of curing the condition, but also because an unrecognized FM mass is a potentially lethal condition. Careful evaluation of the upper cervical spine and posterior fossa is therefore mandatory.