Some meningiomas can look like gliomas on brain scans
Original title: Intracranial meningiomas mimicking gliomas: A systematic review of clinical, radiological, and histopathological characteristics.
How far along is this research?
- Lab cells
- Animals
- Review
- Tested in people
This looks across many earlier studies rather than running a new one.
This is a summary of past patient reports, not a new treatment.
The short version
A small number of brain tumors that look like gliomas on scans turn out to be meningiomas instead.
What was studied. Researchers gathered 17 past studies that covered 28 patients in all. Every one of these patients had a tumor that looked like a glioma: A tumor that starts in the glial cells, the support cells of the brain and spinal cord. Gliomas are given a grade from 1 to 4 describing how the tumor is expected to behave. See the glossary on scans but was really a meningioma.
What they found. Before surgery, doctors thought the tumor was a glioma: A tumor that starts in the glial cells, the support cells of the brain and spinal cord. Gliomas are given a grade from 1 to 4 describing how the tumor is expected to behave. See the glossary in 85.7% of these patients. After surgery, tests showed that 78.6% were low grade meningiomas. Surgeons were able to take out the whole tumor in 78.6% of patients. The tumor came back in one patient, and one patient died.
What this means, and what it doesn't
What it could mean: A scan that points to a fast growing glioma: A tumor that starts in the glial cells, the support cells of the brain and spinal cord. Gliomas are given a grade from 1 to 4 describing how the tumor is expected to behave. See the glossary is not always right. Once in a while the tumor is a meningioma, and low grade ones tend to do well after surgery. Doctors who know about this rare mix up may plan surgery better.
What it doesn't mean: This does not mean your tumor is likely to be one of these. This mix up is rare. The review only pulled together old reports on 28 patients. It did not test any new drug or treatment, and it is not a promise of a cure. Nothing here changes the care you get today.
Source: PubMed, August 14, 2026 · Read the original
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