ABSTRACT
Representing roughly a fourth of CNS primary neoplasms (CBTRUS, 2002), meningiomas are among the most common brain tumors and their remarkably wide biological and histologic spectrum has fascinated surgeons and pathologists alike for well over a century. In order to adequately summarize the many recent advances since the last edition of this book, only a brief historical summary is provided. However, for a more detailed perspective, the reader is referred to several eloquent accounts (Cushing and Eisenhardt, 1938; Kepes, 1982, 1986; Russell and Rubinstein, 1989). Although clearly outdated in part, these references
(never more than an arm reach away from my desk) still provide a tremendous wealth of useful information and a unique perspective on the earliest controversies regarding meningiomas, some of which have yet to be resolved.
