Primary Versus Adjuvant Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Cavernous Sinus Meningiomas: A Propensity Score-Matched Comparative Analysis.

Abstract

The initial management of symptomatic cavernous sinus meningioma (CSM) remains a matter of debate. This study compares long-term tumor control and neurological outcomes in patients who underwent either primary stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) or initial surgery followed by adjuvant SRS for both residual and progressive disease. We identified 292 patients with CSM who underwent Gamma Knife radiosurgery between 1987 and 2024 (median follow-up, 77 months). The initial management included 167 patients who underwent primary SRS and 125 patients who had adjuvant SRS after surgical resection. Propensity score matching (1:1) was performed to control for potential selection bias differences, resulting in 150 matched patients. The primary outcomes included tumor control, neurological improvement, and neurological worsening. Kaplan-Meier analysis and logistic regression were performed. Compared with adjuvant SRS, primary SRS was associated with enhanced tumor control (log-rank P = .049) at 5 years (96.5% vs 90.5%) and 10 years (89.5% vs 77.8%). Neurological improvement rates were greater in the primary SRS group (10-year: 39.3% vs 25.2%, log-rank P = .008; odds ratio = 2.84, 95% CI: 1.33-6.07, P = .01), often related to improved abducens nerve function (log-rank P = .025) in primary SRS patients. The risk of neurological worsening was no different between primary and adjuvant SRS patients (P = .995). This study provides further evidence that primary SRS is a better option than initial surgery followed by adjuvant SRS for the initial management of patients with symptomatic CSM.