Revisiting traditional transcranial approaches for anterior skull base meningiomas: a systematic review and meta-analysis of transcranial approaches against minimally invasive surgical techniques.

Qingping Joseph Feng, Yilong Zheng, Tristan Kuan Fong Cheong, Peter Ying Khai Hwang

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review

In one paragraph

Synthesis in Neurosurgical review, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Qingping Joseph FengDepartment of Neurosurgery, National Neuroscience Institute, 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, Singapore, 308433, Singapore. joseph.feng@mohh.com.sg.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0007-7302-2023

Yilong ZhengDepartment of Neurosurgery, National Neuroscience Institute, 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, Singapore, 308433, Singapore.

Tristan Kuan Fong CheongDepartment of Neurosurgery, National Neuroscience Institute, 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, Singapore, 308433, Singapore.

Peter Ying Khai HwangDepartment of Neurosurgery, National Neuroscience Institute, 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, Singapore, 308433, Singapore.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Advancements in surgical techniques and technology have led to a proliferation of less-invasive approaches for managing Anterior Skull Base Meningiomas (ASBMs), creating new challenges in selecting the optimal surgical approach. We reviewed the current literature comparing outcomes between Traditional Transcranial Approaches (TCA) and Minimally Invasive Surgical (MIS) techniques. PubMed and Embase databases were searched for studies published up to 18th November 2025. The primary outcome was extent of tumor resection. Secondary outcomes included visual improvement and post-operative complications. Seventeen studies met inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis of Gross Total Resection (GTR) rates for 1740 patients (MIS: 679; TCA: 1061) demonstrated no statistically significant difference between approaches (RR = 1.00, 95% CI 0.94-1.06). Post-operative visual improvement, assessed in 1547 patients (MIS: 601; TCA: 946) showed no statistically significant difference on random-effects modeling, with substantial inter-study heterogeneity (I

Indexed as

Meningeal NeoplasmsMeningiomaMinimally Invasive Surgical ProceduresNeurosurgical ProceduresSkull Base NeoplasmsHumansPostoperative ComplicationsTreatment OutcomeAnterior skull base lesionsMeningiomas transcranial approachMinimally invasive surgerySkull base surgerySurgical outcomes

Identifiers

PMID41388197

DOI10.1007/s10143-025-04001-2

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.