Turkish Neurosurgery 2008 , Vol 18 , Num 4
Early Post Operative Visual Outcome in Microsurgically Treated Suprasellar Meningiomas Predict Long-Term Visual Outcome
Masoud MEHRAZIN, Reza MIRFALAH
Tehran University of Medical Science, Shariatti Hospital Neurosurgery ward, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran BACKGROUND: Different data exist regarding long-term visual prognosis associated with suprasellar meningiomas. The aim of this study was to determine the outcome of suprasellar meningiomas with respect to short and long-term visual outcomes.

METHOD: During the period of 1997 to 2006, 45 patients were operated either through a pterional (30) or bifrontal (15) approach. Visual parameters were evaluated early and late post-operatively.

RESULTS: 5 patients died post-operatively and 2 cases failed to attend follow up. During the early post-operative period, 15 (39.5%) showed improvement and 9 (23.7%) worsening of vision among 38 patients. Patients were followed-up for 1 to 8 years with mean of 4.1 years. Follow-up data revealed that 26 (68.4%) patients had visual improvement in at least one eye (10 of them in both eyes) while 10 (26.3%) patients had visual deterioration in one or both eyes. Data showed no significant correlation between visual outcome and extent of tumor removal or surgical approach. Visual outcome was better in patients with preoperative vision >1mfc (p-value=0.001). Data also showed that early post-op vision significantly correlates with long term visual outcome (p-value =0.003).

CONCLUSION: Visual outcome is better in patients with preoperative vision >1 mfc and early post-operative vision significantly correlates with long term visual outcome. Keywords : Suprasellar meningioma, Visual outcome, Surgical resection, Recurrence, Radiotherapy

Corresponding author : Masoud Mehrazın, mehrazin@yahoo.com