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Meningiomas are one of the more common intracranial neoplasms. The risk of seizures, brain edema, etc. often leads practitioners to administer prophylactic antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) perioperatively. The efficiacy of this practice remains controversial.

Scientists now performed a systematic analysis of outcomes following supratentorial meningioma resection with and without prophylactic AED administration.

They performed a search of literature (1979-2010) and included 19 studies with 698 patients in total in their investigations. There were no significant differences in the extent of resection, perioperative mortality, or recurrence between the AED and no-AED cohorts. Likewise, there were no significant differences in the incidence of early or late seizures between the cohorts.

As a conclusion the scientists recommended a carefully reconsidered use of antiepileptic drugs despite their traditional role in this patient population.

© 13.09.2011 mf, Deutsche Hirntumorhilfe e.V.

Quelle: Journal of Neurosurgery; A review. June 3, 2011; Ricardo J. Komotar, M.D.¹, Daniel M. S. Raper, M.B.B.S.², Robert M. Starke, M.D., M.Sc.³, J. Bryan Iorgulescu, B.S.¹, and Philip H. Gutin, M.D.¹

¹Department of Neurological Surgery, Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York; ²Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia; and ³Department of Neurosurgery, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia