Meningioma

January 12, 2026

This page was reviewed under our medical and editorial policy by Rosalind Munoz, P.A., Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research, City of Hope^® Cancer Center Duarte.

Meningiomas are the most common type of primary brain tumor, which means they start in the brain or spinal cord. They account for about one-third of all brain tumors.

What Is Meningioma?

A meningioma is a type of brain tumor that starts in thin layers of tissue that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord called the meninges. Most grow in the brain, but some can form along the spinal cord.

These tumors usually grow slowly, and about 80% are benign, meaning they’re not cancerous.

Meningioma Symptoms

The symptoms of a meningioma can vary depending on where it’s located. They often come on slowly and may include:

• Morning headaches that feel worse than usual
• Blurred vision
• Hearing loss
• Loss of smell
• Confusion or trouble thinking clearly
• Weakness in arms or legs
• Numbness
• Seizures

Because some people don’t experience any symptoms at all, doctors often discover the tumor during brain or spine scans done for other reasons.

Causes and Risk Factors

Though the cause of meningioma isn’t clear, most cancers happen because of changes (mutations) in genes. In many meningiomas, researchers have found a problem on chromosome 22 — a part of the DNA that normally helps prevent tumors from forming. When this gene doesn’t work properly, it’s easier for a tumor to grow.

Exposure to radiation, especially during childhood, may also raise the risk. People with certain inherited conditions, such as neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2), have a much higher chance of developing a meningioma.

Common risk factors for meningioma include:

• Gender: Meningiomas are more common in women. Middle-aged women are more than twice as likely as men to develop them, likely because of hormone influences. Most occur between ages 30 and 70 and are rare in children.
• Hormone changes or hormone therapy: The hormones estrogen, progesterone and androgen may promote meningioma growth. These tumors can grow faster during pregnancy, when hormone levels are naturally higher, or during hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
• Radiation exposure: Past exposure to radiation, especially to the head and neck, can increase risk.
• Birth control pills: Like HRT, oral contraceptives raise hormone levels and may increase the chance of meningioma.
• Breast cancer: There isn’t a proven direct link, but breast cancer and meningioma share risk factors like age, gender and hormones.
• Head injury: Past skull fractures or scarring of the brain’s membranes have sometimes been linked to meningiomas, though recent studies have not confirmed a strong connection.
• Age: Risk goes up after age 65.
• Race: Black people have a higher risk than other racial groups.
• Obesity: Some studies show meningiomas occur more often in people with obesity, but the link isn’t fully understood.
• Genetic conditions: NF2 carries about a 50% risk. Other rare syndromes that may raise risk include Cowden, Werner, Rubinstein-Taybi and Gorlin syndrome.

Diagnosis

If the care team suspects a meningioma, the patient will likely be referred to a neurologist — a specialist who treats conditions affecting the brain and spinal cord.

To confirm the diagnosis, the neurologist will:

• Perform a neurological exam to check the patient’s reflexes, muscle strength, vision, balance and other brain and nerve functions.
• Order imaging tests with contrast dye, such as a CT scan or MRI scan to locate the meningioma and determine its size.

In some cases, the doctor may recommend a biopsy — removing a small piece of the tumor to examine in a lab. This helps rule out other types of tumors and confirm the diagnosis.

Meningioma Grades

There are three grades of meningiomas, based on characteristics such as the tumor’s location and type, extent of spreading, genetic findings, patient’s age and amount of tumor remaining after surgery.

An oncologist grades meningiomas 1 to 3, with lower numbers representing less aggressive cancers.

• Grade 1 meningiomas: The most common type, comprising about 80% of meningiomas. These tumors are benign, grow slowly and have clear borders.
• Grade 2 atypical meningiomas: About 15%–20% of meningiomas. They’re not clearly benign or cancerous but can become cancerous over time. They tend to return after treatment and grow rapidly.
• Grade 3 anaplastic meningiomas: The rarest type — only about 1% to 4% of cases. These tumors are cancerous, grow quickly and can spread to nearby brain tissue to other parts of the body like the lungs.

Meningioma Types

Meningiomas are named based on where they grow in the brain or spine.

• Cavernous sinus meningiomas: Found near blood vessels that drain blood from the brain.
• Convexity meningiomas: Grow on the brain’s surface under the skull.
• Foramen magnum meningiomas: Located where the brain connects to the spinal cord.
• Intraventricular meningiomas: Develop inside brain fluid spaces.
• Olfactory groove meningiomas: Affect the nerves for smell.
• Optic nerve sheath meningiomas: Grow on the optic nerve.
• Parasagittal and falcine meningiomas: Located on tissue dividing the brain’s two sides.
• Petroclival meningiomas: Form slowly deep in the skull base.
• Planum sphenoidale meningiomas: Grow slowly near the front of the brain.
• Posterior fossa/petrous meningiomas: Found on nerves under the brain.
• Skull base meningiomas: Located at the skull’s base.
• Sphenoid wing meningiomas: Develop near the eye sockets.
• Spinal meningiomas: Grow in the spine.
• Suprasellar meningiomas: Form near the optic nerves and pituitary gland.
• Tuberculum sellae meningiomas: Located near key brain structures.

Meningioma Treatment

Not everyone with a meningioma needs treatment right away. Sometimes, if the tumor is small, not causing symptoms and not growing, doctors may recommend watchful waiting. This means regular check-ups and scans to keep an eye on the tumor and make sure it’s not getting bigger or causing problems.

If treatment is needed, options may include neurosurgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Based on the patient’s specific tumor, symptoms and overall health, the care team will personalize a treatment plan that is optimal for him or her.

Meningioma Surgery

If the tumor is causing symptoms, surgery is often the first choice to safely remove as much of the meningioma as possible.

Radiation Therapy

When surgery can’t remove the whole tumor, or if surgery isn’t an option, targeted radiation may be used to shrink or manage the meningioma.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is rarely used for meningiomas but may be considered if the tumor doesn’t respond to surgery or radiation.

Who Treats Meningioma?

If the patient is diagnosed with a meningioma, the care team may include these multidisciplinary experts and others who collaborate to plan and deliver treatment:

• Neurologist, a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating brain and nervous system conditions.
• Neurosurgeon, a surgeon trained to operate on the brain and spinal cord if surgery is needed to remove the tumor.
• Radiation oncologist, who uses high-energy beams of radiation to destroy cancerous tissue.
• Medical oncologist, who treats cancer with drugs such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy or targeted therapy.
• Neuroradiologist, a specialist who interprets brain and spine imaging, such as MRIs or CT scans.
• Pathologist, who examines tissue samples for diagnostic purposes to help determine a treatment plan.
• Nurse navigator or oncology nurse, who helps guide the patient through his or her care, answers questions and coordinates appointments.
• Supportive care providers, who focus on cancer- and treatment-related side effects and symptom management.

Meningioma Life Expectancy

Survival rates for meningioma depend on various factors, with the best outcomes seen in people who have grade 1 (benign) tumors.

The five-year relative survival rate for meningioma is approximately 88%. This means that, on average, about 88 out of 100 people are alive five years after their diagnosis, compared to people without that cancer type.

Keep in mind, this number is just an estimate based on large groups of people. Many personal factors can influence the patient’s outlook, including:

• Tumor grade, type and location
• Tumor characteristics
• Patient age and overall health
• Tumor responsiveness to treatment

Because every situation is unique, it’s recommended to discuss what these numbers mean with a brain tumor expert.