In this study, we aimed to compare repeated resection and radiation treatment, such as Gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) or conventional radiotherapy (RT), and investigate the factors influencing treatment outcome, including overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and complication rates.

We retrospectively reviewed 67 cases of recurred intracranial meningiomas (repeated resection: 36 cases, radiation treatment: 31 cases) with 56 months of the median follow-up duration (range, 13–294 months).

The incidence of death rate was 29.9% over follow-up period after treatment for recurred meningiomas (20/67). As independent predictable factors for OS, benign pathology [hazard ratio (HR) 0.132, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.048–0.362, p <0.001] and tumor size <3 cm (HR 0.167, 95% CI 0.061–0.452, p <0.001) were significantly associated with a longer OS. The incidence of progression rate was 23.9% (16/67). Only treatment modality was important for PFS as an independent predictable factor (GKRS/RT vs. open resection; HR 0.117, 95% CI 0.027–0.518, p <0.005). The complication rate was 14.9% in our study (10/67). Larger tumor size (≥3 cm, HR 0.060, 95% CI 0.007–0.509, p =0.010) was significant as an independent prognostic factor for development of complications. Although treatment modality was not included for multivariate analysis, it should be considered as a predictable factor for complications ( p =0.001 in univariate analysis).

The role of repeated resection is questionable for recurred intracranial meningiomas, considering high progression and complication rates. Frequent and regular imaging follow-up is required to detect recurred tumor sized as small as possible, and radiation treatment can be a preferred treatment.