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By Mayo Clinic staffMeningiomas occur in the cells that make up the meninges — the membranes that surround your brain and spinal cord, forming a protective barrier. It isn't clear what causes a meningioma to form.
Doctors know that something alters some cells in your meninges to make them multiply out of control, leading to a meningioma tumor. But whether this occurs because of genes you inherit, things you're exposed to in your environment or a combination of both remains unknown.
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