Post-surgery radiotherapy halves recurrence risk for atypical meningioma patients

Researchers from The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Liverpool reported that postoperative radiotherapy markedly reduces the chance of atypical meningioma returning. In the Roam trial, 78 participants received six weeks of daily radiotherapy after total surgical resection, while 79 were managed with standard observation. Over a five-year follow-up, tumour recurrence was observed in 14% of the radiotherapy cohort compared with 30% of the observation cohort, and five-year disease-free survival rose to 80% versus 64%.

Quality of life, memory and cognition remained comparable between groups, though nearly half of those treated experienced short-term effects such as scalp redness, hair loss, fatigue and headache. Patient testimonies, including a volunteer from The Brain Tumour Charity, underscore the practical benefits of the approach. Experts say the findings could reshape treatment guidelines for Grade 2 meningioma, pending longer-term data.