What are the current guidelines for referring patients with suspected meningioma to a specialist for further evaluation?

Referral Guidelines for Suspected Meningioma

For patients with suspected meningioma, the current UK guidelines recommend offering a standard structural MRI as the initial diagnostic test, unless MRI is contraindicated. This MRI should include T2 weighted, FLAIR, DWI series, and T1 pre- and post-contrast volume sequences to accurately identify the lesion.

Following the initial imaging, patients with findings suggestive of meningioma should be referred to a specialist multidisciplinary team for further evaluation and management. This referral is important to ensure appropriate assessment, including consideration of CT imaging if bone involvement is suspected, and to plan treatment based on tumour grade and extent of surgical excision.

Referral should also be considered promptly if the patient develops new or changing neurological symptoms or signs at any time, to allow timely clinical review and imaging.