Presentamos 104 pacientes con meningiomas intracraneales, estudiados en nuestro Servicio durante el período de 1981–1990, que fueron clasificados en dos grupos: Grupo A, adultos con edad entre 19 y 64 años y Grupo B, tercera edad –65 y 78 años–. Predominó el sexo femenino 1:2,15. Practicamos TAC craneal en todos los casos, angiografía cerebral en 53 pacientes y RMN en 20 pacientes. En cuatro casos se prescindió de la intervención quirúrgica por diferentes causas clínicas. Consideramos los resultados quirúrgicos de 100 pacientes, 70 del Grupo A y 30 del Grupo B. En todos se realizó seguimiento mínimo de 1 año. En la valoración del grado de resección tumoral utilizamos la escala de Simpson. Considerando la escala de pronóstico de Glasgow modificada en los resultados post-operatorios el 85% de casos (Grupo A 85,71%, Grupo B 83,35%) hacen vida normal, o presentan crisis comiciales en la mayor parte de los casos controladas farmacológicamente, o déficit neurológico menor, que les permite llevar una vida autónoma y funcional. Nuestros resultados apoyan el tratamiento quirúrgico activo de meningiomas intracraneales en pacientes de la tercera edad, excepto si existiera contraindicación médica específica.

We present 104 patients with intracranial meningiomas studied in our Service between 1981 and 1990. They were divided into two groups. Group A: adults with age ranging between 19 and 64 years. Group B: patients 65 to 78 years old. All patients were studied by CT scan. Fifty three patients had cerebral angiography, and 20 patients were studied by MR. Four patients were excluded from surgery for different clinical reasons. The surgical results in 100 patients are analyzed (70 of Group A, and 30 of Group B). All patients were followed for 1 year or longer period. The Glasgow Outcome Scale was used to evaluate the surgical results. Eighty five per cent of the patients (Group A=85,7%, Group B=83,3%) were either in normal condition, or they had seizures controlled by treatment, or minor neurological deficits. There were not statistical differences in the results between the two age groups. Thus, the results of our study support that surgical treatment of intracranial meningiomas is indicated in old patients, except when medical status prevents surgical treatment be performed.