As reported in the news recently, singer Sheryl Crow has been
diagnosed with a benign tumor called a meningioma, a tumor that
occurs outside of the brain. These tumors grow from the lining
of the brain, inside the skull known as the dura mater, making
them less severe of a problem than tumors that arise within the
brain itself. Moreover, most meningiomas are benign tumors,
meaning they almost never spread outside of the head, and
patients can be cured by surgery. In the United States, about
10,000 people a year are diagnosed with a meningioma. While most
meningiomas can be treated with surgery, not all meningiomas can
be removed safely. If the tumor appears attached to critical
structures such as the brainstem or optic nerves, in some cases
it is much better for the surgeon to remove only as much of the
tumor as can be done safely. As meningiomas usually grow slowly,
performing a “subtotal removal” may relieve a patient’s symptoms
for many years. An excellent alternative for many patients is to
be treated wit