Cognition in Meningioma: Effects of Tumor Location and Tumor Removal

World Neurosurg. 2024 Dec 13:123519. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2024.11.102. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Background: Meningiomas are the most common type of primary intracranial tumor, yet very few studies have assessed the effects of tumor removal.

Methods: Here we report analysis of patients with meningiomas who underwent routine neuropsychological assessment and surgery at a National Health Service (NHS) hospital in the North East of England over a 6-year period.

Results: Surgical removal of tumors significantly improved both phonemic and semantic verbal fluency and some measures of working memory and declarative memory. There were no signs of deleterious effects of surgery. Postoperative improvements in cognition did not appear to rely upon changes in anxiety and mood.

Conclusions: In summary, we conclude that tumor removal in meningioma can be associated with some benefits in cognition.

Keywords: Declarative memory; Frontal; Meningioma; Phonemic fluency; Resection; Semantic fluency; Working memory.