What is Petroclival meningioma?

Petroclival meningiomas are lesions arising from the upper two thirds of the clivus with dural attachment centered on the petroclival junction. They are seated medial to the internal auditory meatus and posterior to the gasserian ganglion.

What is trigeminal schwannoma?

Trigeminal Schwannomas are a type of peripheral intracranial nerve sheath tumor that develop at the skull base and originate from the Schwann cells. Schwann cells are a type of glial cell that helps protect the transmission of messages and instructions by neurons in the peripheral nervous system.

How common are trigeminal schwannomas?

Schwannoma are benign tumors originating from the Schwann cells of the nerve sheaths. They can arise from any peripheral, cranial or autonomic nerves. Trigeminal schwannomas are rare accounting for 0.07–0.3% of all intracranial tumors and 0.8%–5% of intracranial schwannomas.

What does petroclival mean?

Petroclival meningiomas, by definition, are tumors that originate in the upper two thirds of the clivus at the petroclival junction medial to the fifth cranial nerve. 1,2. These tumors often displace the brain stem and the basilar artery to the opposite side.

What causes petroclival meningioma?

What Are the Causes? The cause of petroclival meningiomas is not currently known. Risk factors include previous radiation treatment to the head and certain inherited disorders such as neurofibromatosis 2.

Is trigeminal schwannoma a brain tumor?

Developing in the nerve sheath at the base and skull and originating from its namesake cells—glial cells that create a myelin sheath around nerves to protect information transmissions through the peripheral nervous system—trigeminal schwannomas are a type of intracranial tumor.

Where is Petroclival located?

Petroclival meningiomas (PCMs) arise from the upper two-thirds of the clivus, are located at the petroclival junction, medial to the internal auditory meatus (IAM), and posterior to the trigeminal nerve.

What is the prevalence of trigeminal schwannoma?

Trigeminal schwannomas are uncommon slow-growing encapsulated tumors composed of schwann cells. They are the second most common intracranial schwannoma, far less common than vestibular schwannoma, and has a predominantly benign growth. Patients usually present in middle age, typically the 3 rd to 4 th decades.

What is the prevalence of acoustic schwannoma?

They make up a third of tumors of Meckel’s cave, while accounting for less than 0.2% of all intracranial tumors. Although intracranial schwannomas are common, making up approximately 8% of all intracranial tumors, the vast majority, around 90%, are acoustic schwannomas .

What are the treatment options for petroclival meningiomas?

Petroclival meningiomas are most commonly found in women around 50 years of age and have the general tendency to grow and affect several cranial nerves. At presentation, many patients complain of headaches, gait disturbances and cranial neuropathies. Treatment options include surgery, with a variety of surgical approaches, and or radiotherapy.

What is the difference between schwannoma and cystic area?

Schwannomas are typically isodense to brain, and can be difficult to identify, depending on location. Cystic areas (usually found in larger tumors) are hypodense, similar to CSF. Following administration of contrast they moderately enhance, often heterogeneously due to cystic areas.