Key Points

• Both sphenoid wing meningioma and parasagittal meningioma are cranial tumors that may qualify for inclusion in the Depo-Provera MDL. 
• These two subtypes are among the most frequently diagnosed cranial meningiomas and are expressly named in MDL 3140’s qualifying-diagnosis list. 
• Women diagnosed with either subtype after using Depo-Provera or its generic equivalent may be eligible to file a lawsuit regardless of tumor size, surgical history, or current treatment status. 

Why It Matters

Some women hesitate to contact a lawyer because their meningioma diagnosis sounds unusually technical, and they assume their specific tumor type may not qualify for the Depo-Provera litigation. Sphenoid wing and parasagittal meningiomas are two of the most commonly diagnosed cranial meningioma locations, and both are squarely included in the eligible-diagnosis list for MDL 3140. 

Depo-Provera Sphenoid Wing & Parasagittal Meningioma Lawsuits

When women diagnosed with meningioma read their pathology report or surgical notes, they often encounter unfamiliar clinical terms describing the precise location of their tumor. Names like “sphenoid wing,” “parasagittal,” “convexity,” “falcine,” and “olfactory groove” can sound technical and intimidating, and they often raise an immediate question: does my specific subtype qualify for the Depo-Provera meningioma lawsuits? 

For women diagnosed with sphenoid wing meningioma or parasagittal meningioma after using the Depo-Provera birth control shot, the answer is yes. 

Both subtypes are cranial meningiomas, meaning they form on the meninges (the protective layers) surrounding the brain inside the skull. Cranial meningiomas are the precise category of tumor that the federal multidistrict litigation against Pfizer is designed to address. 

If you or a loved one used Depo-Provera and were later diagnosed with a sphenoid wing or parasagittal meningioma, you may qualify to file a lawsuit. For more information about your legal options or to start the process of filing claim today, contact the lawyers at Hissey Mulderig & Friend by calling our office toll-free at 1-866-806-8117, or send us a message using our free Depo-Provera claims submission form on the right side of this page. 

What Are Sphenoid Wing and Parasagittal Meningiomas?

Meningiomas are tumors that arise from the meninges, the three layers of protective membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord. The vast majority of meningiomas are slow-growing and noncancerous, but they can still cause serious harm by pressing on nearby brain tissue, nerves, and blood vessels as they grow. 

Meningiomas are classified by the World Health Organization into three grades based on cell type and aggressiveness, and they are described clinically by their location in the skull. The location names refer to the specific part of the meninges where the tumor arose, and they matter because location determines what symptoms the tumor produces and how it can be safely treated. 

Sphenoid wing and parasagittal meningiomas are two of the most common location subtypes in adult women. 

Sphenoid Wing Meningioma: Location, Symptoms, and Treatment

A sphenoid wing meningioma grows along the sphenoid bone, a butterfly-shaped bone at the base of the skull just behind the eye sockets. Neurosurgeons typically divide sphenoid wing meningiomas into three regions: the lateral (outer) third, the middle third, and the medial (inner) third, which is also called the clinoidal region. 

Because of their location near the optic nerve, the cavernous sinus, and major branches of the carotid artery, sphenoid wing meningiomas often cause: 

• Vision problems, including blurred vision, double vision, or visual field loss 
• Headaches, particularly behind or around the eye 
• Eye protrusion (proptosis) caused by tumor extension into the orbit 
• Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the face 
• Seizures in some cases 

Treatment generally involves microsurgical removal, sometimes combined with stereotactic radiosurgery (such as Gamma Knife) for tumor remnants that cannot be safely removed. Medial sphenoid wing meningiomas are particularly challenging to operate on because of their proximity to critical vascular and neural structures. 

Parasagittal Meningioma: Location, Symptoms, and Treatment

A parasagittal meningioma grows along the superior sagittal sinus, a major venous channel that runs front-to-back along the top of the brain between the two cerebral hemispheres. The tumor typically involves both the dura mater and the wall of the sinus itself, which is what distinguishes it from convexity meningiomas (which grow on the outer surface of the brain without sinus involvement) and falx meningiomas (which grow on the falx cerebri, the membrane that separates the hemispheres). 

Common symptoms of parasagittal meningioma include: 

• Weakness or numbness in one or both legs, because the motor cortex controlling the legs runs along this region 
• Seizures, particularly involving the lower extremities 
• Headaches 
• Changes in coordination, balance, or gait 
• Cognitive or personality changes when the tumor is large 

Treatment is typically surgical, but parasagittal meningiomas present a unique challenge because of their involvement with the superior sagittal sinus. Aggressive removal can risk damaging the sinus, while incomplete removal raises the risk of tumor recurrence. Stereotactic radiation is sometimes used for residual tumor or for patients who are not surgical candidates. 

Are These Subtypes Included in the Depo-Provera MDL?

Yes. Pretrial Order No. 22, issued in the federal Depo-Provera multidistrict litigation (MDL 3140) in the Northern District of Florida, expressly lists qualifying meningioma diagnoses for inclusion in the litigation. The list includes: 

• Intracranial meningiomas generally 
• Convexity meningiomas 
• Falcine and parasagittal meningiomas 
• Intraventricular meningiomas 
• Skull-base meningiomas (including sphenoid wing, olfactory groove, posterior fossa, petrous, suprasellar, and foramen magnum) 
• Recurrent meningiomas 

Both sphenoid wing and parasagittal meningiomas are squarely within the qualifying diagnosis list, and women with either subtype can pursue claims in the MDL or in state court depending on the circumstances of their case. 

Who Qualifies to File a Sphenoid Wing or Parasagittal Meningioma Lawsuit?

To qualify to file a Depo-Provera meningioma lawsuit, a woman generally needs three things: 

1. Documented or attestable use of Depo-Provera (or its generic medroxyprogesterone acetate equivalent). 
2. A confirmed diagnosis of a qualifying meningioma subtype. 
3. A timely filing under the applicable state statute of limitations and statute of repose. 

Longer use of Depo-Provera generally strengthens a claim, because the BMJ March 2024 study and follow-on research have identified a clear duration-response relationship between medroxyprogesterone exposure and meningioma risk. However, current intake criteria in MDL 3140 do not require any specific minimum duration of use, and women with as little as one year of brand or generic exposure may be eligible to file. 

The tumor does not need to be currently symptomatic, surgically removed, or actively undergoing treatment. Women who were diagnosed and are under observation, who have completed surgery, who are receiving radiation, or who require lifetime medical monitoring for tumor recurrence may all be eligible to pursue a claim. 

What Compensation May Be Available?

Women who file a Depo-Provera lawsuit involving sphenoid wing or parasagittal meningioma may be entitled to compensation for damages that include: 

• Past and future medical expenses, including surgery, radiation therapy, hospital stays, and ongoing imaging surveillance 
• Lost wages and lost earning capacity, particularly for women whose tumor or treatment caused lasting cognitive, motor, or vision impairment 
• Pain and suffering, including the physical pain of surgery and recovery and the emotional impact of a brain tumor diagnosis 
• Long-term effects specific to the tumor’s location, including persistent vision loss, leg weakness or paralysis, seizure disorders, cognitive changes, and personality changes 

The specific value of any individual claim depends on the woman’s documented Depo-Provera use, the location and grade of her tumor, the treatments she has undergone, the lasting effects of those treatments, and the law of the state where her claim is filed. No reliable settlement figures are available yet because MDL 3140 is still in the pretrial stage and the first bellwether trial is not scheduled until December 2026. 

Contact a Depo-Provera Meningioma Attorney for a Free Case Evaluation

Sphenoid wing and parasagittal meningiomas are two of the most common cranial meningioma locations, and women diagnosed with either subtype after using Depo-Provera are squarely within the population the litigation is designed to address. 

Women who used Depo-Provera or an authorized generic and were later diagnosed with a sphenoid wing meningioma, parasagittal meningioma, or any other qualifying cranial meningioma subtype may have legal options worth exploring. 

Our law firm, Hissey Mulderig & Friend, is currently evaluating claims involving women diagnosed with meningioma brain tumors after using the Depo-Provera shot. 

To speak with an attorney about your case, find out whether you qualify to take legal action, or start the process of filing your claim today, contact the lawyers at Hissey Mulderig & Friend by calling our office toll-free at 1-866-806-8117, or send us a message using the free claims submission form at the top of this page.