Meningiomas are typically extra-axial tumors. That is, they grow outside the brain and may produce symptoms by compressing the brain. They can often put pressure on other structures such as cranial nerves. This can cause difficulty with vision, hearing, movement and sensation of the face, tongue, and throat, as well as a variety of other problems. Specific symptoms caused by a meningioma will be dependent on the location of origin of the tumor as well as its size.

The vast majority of meningiomas are benign. They usually grow very slowly. This slow pattern of growth allows the surrounding structures to adapt to the presence of the tumor over time. As a result, meningiomas may be very large by the time they are found. A large meningioma may produce symptoms such as headache, which can result from increased intracranial pressure.

The most common treatment options for meningiomas are surgery and radiosurgery (Gamma Knife). Conventional radiation techniques are rarely used and chemotherapy is usually not indicated. Specific treatment recommendations can only be made on a case-by-case basis and are dictated by a wide variety of factors including the size and location of the tumor.

Although they can occasionally occur within the ventricles (fluid chambers in the brain), almost all meningiomas grow from the dura. The dura is the leathery layer of tissue that covers the brain and lines the inside of the skull. Meningiomas can arise from the dura at any location, but there are several typical regions where they often form. Some of the more common types are discussed in more detail below.