Senior Physicians Speaker Series : Meningioma
Dr . Sam Yared , Senior Physicians Speaker Series Chair , introduced Dr . Ramin Hamidi on Tuesday , June 4 . Dr . Hamidi is an Assistant Professor of Neuroradiology in the Department of Radiology at the University of Louisville . He received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree at the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences . He then completed his diagnostic radiology residency in Dearborn , Michigan at Oakwood / Southshore Hospital , followed by his neuroradiology fellowship at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit , Michigan . Before coming to Louisville in 2022 , he practiced in Ohio , Indiana and Mississippi .
Meningiomas are extra axial tumors that form from the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord called the meninges . They are the most common intracranial tumor , more often benign than malignant , and make up 30 % of tumors in the central nervous system . They are very rare in children . Females with meningioma outnumber males by a 2:1 ratio . Surgery is the most effective treatment , by far – 80 % are cured by surgery alone .
There are three grades of meningioma . The most common is grade 1 ( accounting for 90 % of meningiomas ), and can absolutely be cured , Dr . Hamidi said , with surgical treatment or radiation . With grade 2 ( about 5-7 %), surgical resection is first , followed by
28 LOUISVILLE MEDICINE by KATHRYN VANCE radiation to make sure that the tumor does not come back . Grade 3 ( about 3 %, although Dr . Hamidi thinks it may be even less ), requires not only surgery and radiation , but also chemotherapy or immunotherapy . Many surgeons do embolization using things like Onyx , glue or coils for decreased surgical blood loss , and for tumor softening from the cut-off blood supply .
Meningioma can originate spontaneously or be part of a hereditary syndrome such as the neurofibromatosis gene or MEN type 1 . After the surgeon removes the tumor , the pathologist will run a variety of genetic tests . During surgery , it ’ s very important for the surgeon to take the dura out with the tumor to prevent recurrence . This is because meningiomas arise from arachnoid cap cells , which form the outer layer of arachnoid matter .
Throughout the presentation , Dr . Hamidi looked at several scans and compared and contrasted different types , grades and treatments of meningiomas . For a more in-depth understanding and to see the scans yourself , make sure to view his full presentation .
This is a summary of the Senior Physicians Speaker Series presentation . For a link to view the full presentation , please email foundation @ glms . org .
Kathryn Vance is the Communications and Event Coordinator at the Greater Louisville Medical Society .