CLINICAL PATTERNS OF OLFACTORY GROOVE MENINGIOMAS AT KENYATTA NATIONAL HOSPITAL

Abstract

Background: Olfactory groove meningiomas are meningiomas that arise in the midline along the dura of the cribriform plate. They may reach significantly large sizes before becoming symptomatic. Symptoms include headaches, anosmia, visual disturbances, seizures, cognitive problems, and mood and behavioral disturbances. The gold standard of treatment is surgical resection. This is the first Olfactory Groove Meningioma study conducted in Kenya. Methodology: We conducted a cross-sectional retrospective study at the medical records department of Kenyatta National Hospital, including all patients diagnosed with and confirmed to have Olfactory Groove Meningiomas between 2014 and 2019. Results: Females accounted for most cases (56.25%). Most patients (43.75%) were between the ages of 60 and 69yrs and the majority belonged to the Kikuyu tribe (50%). They were mostly from Kenya's Central (33.33%) and Nairobi (26.67%) regions. Headaches, visual disturbances, anosmia, and seizures were all common clinical presentations, with collapse being the only symptom noted to differ significantly in occurrence across the different age groups. There were no other statistically significant differences based on age, gender, or region. The most common method of treatment was total surgical resection. Conclusion: Olfactory Groove Meningiomas are more common in women and the elderly in our setting, consistent with the clinical patterns seen in other settings. The most reported clinical manifestation is headache. As in other settings, surgical resection is the choice of management and the outcomes observed here are mostly good recovery.Patients who present with the clinical patterns described in this paper should be evaluated for olfactory groove meningiomas.