Racial Disparities in the Incidence and Survival of Spinal Meningioma

Epidemiology and survival of patients with spinal meningiomas: a large retrospective cohort study

INTRODUCTION

Spinal meningiomas (SMs) are relatively rare central nervous system tumors that usually trigger neurological symptoms. The prevalence of SMs is increasing with the aging of the global population. This study aimed to perform a systematic epidemiologic and survival prognostic analysis of SMs to evaluate their public health impact and to develop a novel method to estimate the overall survival at 3-year, 5-year, and 10-year in patients with SMs.

METHODS

Five thousand one hundred fifty eight patients with SMs were recruited from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database from 2000 to 2019. Firstly, descriptive analysis was performed on the epidemiology of SMs. Secondly, these individuals were randomly allocated to the training and validation sets in a ratio of 7:3. Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis were utilized in the training set to identify independent prognostic factors and to construct a nomogram for survival prognosis. Subsequently, the discriminative power, predictive performance, and clinical utility of the nomogram were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curve and decision curve analysis. Finally, a mortality risk stratification system and a web-based dynamic nomogram were constructed to quantify the risk of mortality in patients with SMs.

RESULTS

The annual age-adjusted incidence rates of SMs increased steadily since 2004, reaching a rate of 0.40 cases per 100 000 population in 2019, with a female-to-male ratio of ~4:1. The age groups of 50-59, 60-69, and 70-79 years old were the most prevalent ages for SMs, accounting for 19.08, 24.93, and 23.32%, respectively. In addition, seven independent prognostic factors were identified to establish a prognostic nomogram for patients with SMs. The decision curve analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve indicated that the nomogram had high clinical utility and favorable accuracy. Moreover, the mortality risk stratification system effectively divided patients into low-risk, middle-risk, and high-risk subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

SMs are relatively rare benign spinal tumors prevalent in the white elderly female population. Clinicians could use the nomogram to personalize the prediction of the overall survival probability of patients with SMs, categorize these patients into different mortality risk subgroups, and develop personalized decision-making plans. Moreover, the web-based dynamic nomogram could help to further promote clinical application and assist clinicians in providing personalized counseling, timely monitoring, and clinical assessment for patients.

Effect of race, sex, and socioeconomic factors on overall survival following the resection of intramedullary spinal cord tumors

INTRODUCTION

Intramedullary spinal cord tumors (IMSCTs) account for 2-4% of all primary CNS tumors. Given their low prevalence and the intricacy of their diagnosis and management, it is critical to address the surrounding racial and socioeconomic factors that impact the care of patients with IMSCTs. This study aimed to investigate the association between race and socioeconomic factors with overall 5 year mortality following the resection of IMSCTs.

METHODS

The study used the National Cancer Database to retrospectively analyze patients who underwent resection of IMSCTs from 2004 to 2017. Patients were divided into four cohorts by race/ethnicity, facility type, insurance, median income quartiles, and living area. The primary outcome of interest was 5 year survival, and secondary outcomes included postoperative length of stay and 30 day readmission. Descriptive and multivariable analyses were used to identify independent factors associated with mortality, with statistical significance assessed at a 2-sided p < 0.05.

RESULTS

We evaluated the patient characteristics and outcomes for 8,028 patients who underwent surgical treatment for IMSCTs between 2004 and 2017. Most patients were white males (52.4%) with a mean age of 44 years where 7.17% of patients were Black, 7.6% were Hispanic, and 3% were Asian. Most were treated in an academic/research program (72.4%) and had private insurance (69.2%). Black patients had a higher odd of 5 year mortality (OR 1.4; 95% CI 1.1 to 1.77; p = 0.04) compared to white patients, while no significant differences in mortality were observed among other races. Factors associated with lower odds of mortality included being female (OR 0.89; 95% CI 0.78 to 1.02; p < 0.01), receiving treatment in an academic/research program (OR 0.51; 95% CI 0.33 to 0.79; p = 0.04), having private insurance (OR 0.65; 95% CI 0.45 to 0.93; p = 0.02), and having higher income quartiles (OR 0.77; 95% CI 0.62 to 0.96; p = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

Our study sheds light on the healthcare disparities that exist in the surgical management of IMSCTs. Our findings indicate that race, sex, socioeconomic status, and treatment facility are independent predictors of 5 year mortality, with Black patients, males, those with lower socioeconomic status, and those treated at non-academic centers experiencing significantly higher mortality rates. These alarming disparities underscore the urgent need for policymakers and researchers to address the underlying factors contributing to these discrepancies and provide equal access to high-quality surgical care for patients with IMSCTs.

A current review of spinal meningiomas: epidemiology, clinical presentation and management

PURPOSE

To provide an up-to-date review of the epidemiology, histopathology, molecular biology, and etiology of spinal meningiomas, as well as discuss the clinical presentation, clinical evaluation, and most recent treatment recommendations for these lesions.

METHODS

PubMed and Google Scholar search was performed for studies related to meningiomas of the spine. The terms "meningioma," "spinal meningioma," "spine meningioma," "meningioma of the spine," "benign spinal tumors," and "benign spine tumors," were used to identify relevant studies. All studies, including primary data papers, meta-analyses, systematic reviews, general reviews, case reports, and clinical trials were considered for review.

RESULTS

Eighty-four studies were identified in the review. There were 22 studies discussing adverse postoperative outcomes, 21 studies discussing tumor genetics, 19 studies discussing epidemiology and current literature, 9 studies discussing radiation modalities and impact on subsequent tumor development, 5 studies on characteristic imaging findings, 5 studies discussing hormone use/receptor status on tumor development, 2 discussing operative techniques and 1 discussing tumor identification.

CONCLUSION

Investigations into spinal meningiomas generally lag behind that of intracranial meningiomas. Recent advancements in the molecular profiling of spinal meningiomas has expanded our understanding of these tumors, increasing our appreciation for their heterogeneity. Continued investigation into the defining characteristics of different spinal meningiomas will aid in treatment planning and prognostication.

Epidemiology and Survival after Spinal Meningioma Surgery: A Nationwide Population-Based Study

STUDY DESIGN

This is a cross-sectional nationwide descriptive observational and analytic retrospective study.

PURPOSE

This study aims to describe and assess survival after spinal meningioma (SM) surgery.

OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE

A few studies report a reduced survival after SM surgery.

METHODS

The current study processed the Système National des Données de Santé (SNDS), the French national administrative medical database, to retrieve appropriate cases.

RESULTS

This study identified 2,844 patients (79.1% females) between 2008 and 2017. The median age at surgery was 66 years (interquartile range [IQR], 56-75 years). Moreover, 95.9% of SMs were removed through posterior or posterolateral approaches, and 6.9% were epidural and 0.7% needed an associated spine stabilization. Benign meningioma represented 92.9%, with 5% and 2.1% atypical and malignant, respectively. The median follow-up was 3.3 years (IQR, 3.1-3.5 years). Of the patients, 0.25% and 1.2% expired within a month and a year of surgery, respectively. At data collection, 225 patients (7.9%) expired. The 5-year overall survival (OS) probability was 90.1% (95% CI, 88.6%-91.7%). However, absolute excess risk of mortality after SM surgery was null, and the related standardized mortality ratio was 1 (95% CI, 0.9-1.2; p =0.565). In the adjusted regression, age at surgery (hazard ratio [HR], 1.06; 95% CI, 1.04-1.07; p <0.001), level of comorbidities (HR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.34-1.54; p <0.001), neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2; HR, 3.65; 95% CI, 1.28-10.39; p =0.0152), epidural SM (HR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.09-2.75; p =0.0206), and malignant meningioma (HR, 2.64; 95% CI, 1.51-4.61; p <0.001) remained significantly associated to a reduced OS.

CONCLUSIONS

The SNDS is of great value in assessing SM incidence, associated mortality, and its predictors. OS after meningioma surgery is favorable but may be impaired for NF2 or older patients with a high level of comorbidities, epidural tumor, and malignant histopathology. SM surgery is not associated with an increased absolute excess mortality risk despite being performed on even more senior patients compared with intracranial meningioma.

Functional Outcome After Spinal Meningioma Surgery. A Nationwide Population-Based Study

Objective

To describe and analysed the functional outcome (FO) after spinal meningioma (SM) surgery.

Methods

We processed the système national des données de santé (SNDS) i.e. , the French national administrative medical database to retrieve appropriate cases. We analysed the International Classification of Diseases 10 codes to assess the FO. Logistic models were implemented to search for variables associated with a favourable FO i.e. , a patient being independent at home without disabling symptom.

Results

A total of 2,844 patients were identified of which 79.1% were female. Median age at surgery was 66 years, interquartile range (IQR) (56–75). Ninety-five point nine percent of the SMs were removed through a posterior ± lateral approach and 0.7% need an associated stabilisation. Benign meningioma represented 92.9% and malignant 2.1%. Median follow-up was 5.5 years, IQR (2.1–8), and at data collection 9% had died. The FO was good and increased along the follow-up: 84.3% of the patients were alive and had not associated symptoms at one year, 85.9% at 2 and 86.8% at 3 years. Nonetheless, 3 years after the surgery 9.8% of the alive patients still presented at least one disabling symptom of which 2.7% motor deficit, 3.3% bladder control problem, and 2.5% gait disturbance. One point seven percent were care-provider dependent and 2.1% chair or bedfast. In the multivariable logistic regression an older age at surgery (odds ratio [OR], 0.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.29–0.47, p<0.001), a high level of comorbidities (OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.66–0.75, p<0.001), and an aggressive tumor (OR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.33–0.73; p<0.001) were associated with a worse FO.

Conclusion

FO after meningioma surgery is favourable but, may be impaired for older patients with a high level of comorbidities and aggressive tumor.