Foramen Magnum Meningioma Presenting with Cough Syncope (Case Report and Review of the Literature)
Arq. bras. neurocir; 37 (4), 2018
Publication year: 2018
Foramen magnum meningiomas cause different symptoms based on the size and the
location of the tumor. They often present with involvement of the long tracts and of the
lower cranial nerves.Ataxia and occipitocervical headache are other common symptoms. In
the present study, we report a case of foramen magnum meningioma presenting with
cough syncope. A mass lesion located anterolateral to the foramenmagnumwas detected
in a 38-year-oldmanduring amagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam; the lesion extended
from the inferior clivus to the level of the C2 vertebra. The neural axis has pushed towards
posterior and contralateral side by the mass. We think that syncope occurred due to the
encasement of the vertebral arteries by the tumor in addition to the compression of the
neural axis. The posterolateral approach without condylar resection provides a safe surgical
plane for total excision of these tumors. In our case, the tumor was totally removed and the
syncope episodes were resolved.