Getting a meningioma diagnosis can be alarming. You’ll likely have many questions about what a diagnosis means and what meningioma treatments are available. You may also have questions about how it will affect your daily life and what changes you can expect.
Meningioma tumors grow very slowly and typically don’t cause major problems right away. Outcomes vary, but many people do well with monitoring and/or treatment recommended by their care team.
This guide will take you through the details of how meningioma is diagnosed, what the different meningioma grades mean, and what comes next.
Published on:
May 31, 2026
Category:
Cancer Diagnosis
It’s normal to feel a flood of emotions when you first get diagnosed. Your world may suddenly feel turned upside down, especially if your meningioma was discovered by accident and you had no sign that anything was wrong.
Learning about meningioma signs and symptoms, as well as how the disease is treated, can help you prepare for what’s ahead. Many meningiomas are slow-growing and noncancerous (benign), but management depends on the tumor’s grade, size, location, and your overall health. Your care team will discuss the plan that best suits your situation, including whether to monitor or treat.
Gathering as much information as possible about meningioma treatment options will help you make informed decisions for your situation. It may also be helpful to identify trusted supporters, such as family, friends, or caregivers, and to ask your clinic about counseling and patient resources.
Learn more about the potential connection between meningiomas and Depo-Provera use:
If you or your doctor worries that you may have a meningioma, you’ll undergo a series of tests. These tests help confirm the diagnosis, define size and location, and guide care. With this meningioma diagnosis, you and your care team can decide on the approach and treatments that are best for you. Your doctor will select the most suitable tests; not everyone requires every test listed below.
Meningioma grades were developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a guide to the severity, behavior, and risks of these tumors. Meningioma grades are based on how the tumor cells appear under a microscope, as well as genetic markers that indicate their behavior and signs that they’ll grow rapidly or abnormally.
Knowing the grade of your tumor is key to choosing the best meningioma treatments. Tumors behave in diverse ways. Some are slow-growing and don’t require immediate treatment, while others grow quicker and have a higher chance of recurrence. These details will help your doctor determine the best course of action for managing this disease.
Here’s a guide to the meningioma grades, including what treatments are often considered for each and what you can expect in general terms.
This is the most common grade of meningioma. Grade 1 meningiomas aren’t cancerous. Their cells grow slowly and look almost normal under a microscope. In many cases, your doctor will recommend watching the tumor if you don’t have significant symptoms. If the tumor is affecting your quality of life, treatment such as surgery and/or targeted radiation could eventually be necessary.
Meningiomas in this grade appear more abnormal under a microscope and may continue to grow in abnormal ways. While not cancerous, they carry a higher risk of recurrence and more aggressive behavior than grade 1 tumors.Treatments for grade 2 meningioma are less straightforward. If active surveillance isn’t an option, your doctor will likely turn to surgery or other techniques to remove the tumor. Post-operative radiation is commonly discussed to lower the risk of recurrence. Close imaging follow-up is standard, but many patients still do well with appropriate care.
Grade 1 – Benign
Accounts for about 80% of meningiomas
Noncancerous, slow-growing, lower rate of recurrence than other grades
Grade 2 – Atypical
Accounts for about 18% of meningiomas
Grows quickly, can become cancerous, more likely to spread and recur than grade 1 tumors
Grade 3 – Malignant
Accounts for about 2% of meningiomas
Cancerous, fast-growing, most likely to spread to the brain and return after treatment
Grade 3 meningiomas are the rarest type. These tumors are cancerous, with cells appearing abnormal under a microscope. They grow aggressively and can invade other tissues. When removed, they have a higher chance of regrowing.
Treatments for grade 3 tumors are more aggressive, typically including surgery and radiation. Systemic or investigational therapies may be discussed in select situations, based on clinical judgment and availability. These tumors are closely monitored, and ongoing care is often required.
The treatments and care plan your doctor recommends will depend on the grade of your tumor when you get your meningioma diagnosis. Lower-grade tumors may not need treatment beyond regular imaging tests. For those who do, surgery and radiation can be successful in managing them and helping lower the risk of recurrence. Higher-grade tumors may require other, more aggressive treatments, as well as more frequent monitoring. Your care team will explain expected benefits, risks, and the follow-up schedule that’s right for you.
Treatments are evolving as researchers learn more about the causes of meningioma and the best ways to provide care for it. The treatments you receive will depend on the grade of your tumor, its type and location, and the symptoms you’re experiencing. Your age and general health are also taken into consideration.
Here are some of the current treatment options for meningioma:
Learn more about the potential connection between meningiomas and Depo-Provera use:
Getting a meningioma diagnosis can be a real shock, but with the right care, you have plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the outcome. If you have a grade 1 meningioma, your life may not change very much. Even for grade 2 and grade 3 tumors, maintaining a sense of normalcy can provide stability through the uncertainties of treatment. Ask your care team about safe activity levels, sleep routines, and nutrition that fit your plan. Keeping up with your routines and interests and leaning on friends and family will help you cope with treatments and lifestyle adjustments.
The financial and emotional challenges of a meningioma diagnosis can also be a lot to deal with. There are resources available to help you plan your finances and support your care. Your hospital’s social worker or financial counselor can help identify assistance programs. Learn more about preparing for the financial aspects of your treatment and how to make caring for someone with meningioma more manageable.
Meningiomas often form and grow slowly and silently for years. You may have no symptoms and only discover your tumor when you get imaging for another reason. If the tumor is located in a sensitive area or grows large enough to press on other tissue, you may have noticeable signs that something’s wrong.
Meningiomas are generally very slow-growing brain tumors. They may take years, sometimes decades, to grow large enough to start causing noticeable symptoms. Because of their slow rate of growth, people can live with them for a very long time, both before and after their diagnosis.
Yes, it’s possible to confuse a meningioma with something else, leading to a misdiagnosis. For example, brain lesions, as well as other conditions and abnormalities, can appear similar to meningiomas on scans.
If you’re uncertain about your diagnosis, it’s always a good idea to get a second opinion. Another specialist can review your images and records, and your care team can explain how a second opinion might inform your options.
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