Foramen Magnum Meningioma

Abstract

Foramen magnum (FM), also called the cranio-cervical junction, is a critical area from a neurosurgical point of view. Its deep location and important neurovascular relationships pose special challenges during surgery. Meningiomas are one of the commonest lesions at the FM, accounting for 70% of all FM tumors. However, FMMs, as such, account for only 1.8-3.2% of all meningiomas of the central nervous system. These tumors often assume very large dimensions at presentation posing significant clinical as well as surgical dilemmas. Based on their dural attachment, the neuraxial structures get displaced variably providing certain corridors that can be exploited during their surgical resection. Over the years, an ideal approach to FMMs has been a matter of intense debate, particularly for the anterior/anterolateral tumors. In this chapter, we provide a brief overview of these tumors in general, with a special emphasis on surgical approaches and results with a review of literature.