Search

Background There is no consensus on the management of incidental meningiomas. The literature on long-term growth dynamics is sparse and the natural history of these tumors remains to be illuminated. Methods We prospectively assessed long-term tumor growth dynamics and survival rates during active monitoring of 62 patients (45 female, mean age 63.9 years) harboring 68 tumors. Clinical and radiological data were obtained every 6 months for 2 years, annually until 5 years, then every second year. Results The natural progression of incidental meningiomas during 12 years of monitoring was growth (P Conclusion Active monitoring seems a safe and appropriate first-line management of incidental meningiomas. Intervention was avoided in > 40% with indolent tumors in this cohort. Treatment was not compromised by tumor growth. Clinical follow-up seems sufficient beyond 5 years if self-limiting growth is established. Steady or accelerating growth warrant monitoring until they reach a stable state or intervention is initiated.

There is no consensus for the management of incidental meningiomas. To evaluate the natural history, we assessed tumour growth dynamics during 10 years of active monitoring of 62 patients (45 female and mean age 63.9) harbouring 68 tumours. Radiological and clinical data was obtained was obtained biannually for two years, then annually the following eight. Thirty-six patients (38 tumours) were referred to treatment and/or died of unrelated causes (n=5) within 5 years. The remaining were monitored for up to 10 years. Mean overall survival was at 128 months (95% CI: 118.8-136.7). Median progression free survival was 34 months (95% CI: 14.7-53.3). Median time for growth requiring intervention was 46 months (95% CI: 23.5-68.5). All tumours with self-limiting growth at 5 years (57.9 %) were still stable or reducing in size at 10 years. Mean growth rate decreased from 0.27 cm3/year (95% CI: 0.10-0.43) during the early observation period (0-5 years) to 0.09 cm3/year (95% CI: -0.02-0.21) in the late observation period. No tumours were referred to treatment during the late observation period. Two patients, both with verified WHO2 grade meningiomas succumbed to the disease, seven and eight years after diagnosis. No other patients developed symptoms and none other of the 18 total mortalities were meningioma related. Most clinical and radiological events occur within 5 years after diagnosis. Our findings suggests that if tumour growth slows down during the first 5 years of monitoring, this trend will continue. Clinical follow-up should be sufficient when a self-limiting growth pattern has been established.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder where patients exhibit impairments in speech production. Few studies have investigated the influence of music interventions on vocal abilities of individuals with PD. Objectives: To evaluate the influence of a group voice and singing intervention on speech, singing, and depressive symptoms in individuals with PD. Methods: Ten patients diagnosed with PD participated in this onegroup, repeated measures design study. Participants received the sixtyminute intervention, in a small group setting once a week for 20 consecutive weeks. Speech and singing quality were acoustically analyzed using a KayPentax Multi-Dimensional Voice Program™, voice ability using the Voice Handicap Index (VHI), and depressive symptoms using the Montgomery and Asberg Depression rating scale (MADRS). Measures were taken at baseline (Time 1), after 10 weeks of weekly sessions (Time 2), and after 20 weeks of weekly sessions (Time 3). Results: Significant changes were observed for five of the six singing quality outcomes at Time 2 and 3, as well as voice range and the VHI physical subscale at Time 3. No significant changes were found for speaking quality or depressive symptom outcomes; however, there was an absence of decline on speaking quality outcomes over the intervention period. Conclusions: Significant improvements in singing quality and voice range, coupled with the absence of decline in speaking quality support group singing as a promising intervention for persons with PD. A twogroup randomized control study is needed to determine whether the intervention contributes to maintenance of speaking quality in persons with PD.