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Last reviewed: 21 Apr 2025
Last updated: 11 Apr 2025

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • presence of risk factors
  • headache
  • neurological deficit
  • seizure

Other diagnostic factors

  • cognitive deficit
  • vertigo/dizziness

Risk factors

  • ionizing radiation
  • genetic predisposition
  • hormones: endogenous and exogenous
  • head trauma

Diagnostic investigations

1st investigations to order

  • MRI brain or spine with and without contrast

Investigations to consider

  • CT brain or spine
  • somatostatin receptor PET/CT
  • cerebral angiography
  • histopathology of surgical resection

Treatment algorithm

Contributors

Authors

Stephen T. Magill, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor

Lou and Jean Malnati Brain Tumor Institute

Robert Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center

Department of Neurological Surgery

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Chicago

IL

Disclosures

STM has authored several articles cited in this topic.

Acknowledgements

Dr Stephen T. Magill would like to gratefully acknowledge Professor William T. Couldwell and Dr Jayson A. Neil, previous contributors to this topic.

Disclosures

WTC is an author of several references cited in this topic. JAN declares that he has no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

Marc Chamberlain, MD

Professor of Neurology

Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute

University of Washington

Seattle

WA

Disclosures

MC is an author of several references cited in this topic.

Ian McCutcheon, MD

Professor of Neurosurgery

The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center

Houston

TX

Disclosures

IM declares that he has no competing interests.

References

Our in-house evidence and editorial teams collaborate with international expert contributors and peer reviewers to ensure that we provide access to the most clinically relevant information possible.

Key articles

World Health Organization Classification of Tumours Editorial Board. WHO classification of tumours of the central nervous system. 5th Edition. France: IARC; 2021.

Louis DN, Perry A, Wesseling P, et al. The 2021 WHO Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System: a summary. Neuro Oncol. 2021 Aug 2;23(8):1231-51.Full text  Abstract

National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology: central nervous system cancers [internet publication].Full text

Goldbrunner R, Stavrinou P, Jenkinson MD, et al. EANO guideline on the diagnosis and management of meningiomas. Neuro Oncol. 2021 Nov 2;23(11):1821-34.Full text  Abstract

Reference articles

A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available here.

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