Importance of failing vision in early diagnosis of suprasellar meningiomas

Abstract

Fifty cases of suprasellar meningioma are reported, of which 17 were “small” and 33 “large.” The symptomatology was almost entirely confined to diminution in visual acuity and/or visual fields. Surgical excision of the small tumours is attended by no mortality and there was a high proportion of improvement in visual signs and symptoms. Surgical excision of the large tumours is extremely difficult and has a high mortality rate. Emphasis is laid upon the need for early diagnosis in the hope of being able to operate when these tumours are of small size. Unfortunately length of history is no guide to the size of the tumour, and it is evident that there must be wide variations in their rates of growth. © 1962, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.