Meningiomas are typically slow-growing tumours and, especially when small, they may produce little in the way of symptoms. Increasingly, these are discovered by chance when scans are ordered to investigate the cause of some headaches, dizziness or tinnitus and are referred to as incidental meningiomas as they are often not thought to be causing the symptoms the patient has. When symptoms do occur these often relate to pressure from the tumour or irritation of the meninges causing headaches. Irritation of the brain may cause seizures (fits). Meningiomas may upset the function of the neighbouring brain and nerves, for example, producing weakness of the face, arms or legs, or disturbing balance, vision, hearing, facial movement, speech or swallowing depending on the location of the growth.
Written by Alireza Shoakazemi for BIMS