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Intracranial hemangiopericytomas: MR and CT features
M V Chiechi1, J G Smirniotopoulos, H Mena
1Department of Radiologic Pathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, DC, USA.
AJNR. American Journal of Neuroradiology
|August 1, 1996
Summary
Intracranial hemangiopericytomas are extraaxial tumors often larger than 4 cm, frequently causing edema and mass effect. Imaging features like lobulated shape and bone erosion can help distinguish them from meningiomas, which lack hyperostosis and calcification.
Area of Science:
- Neuroradiology
- Oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- Hemangiopericytomas are rare, vascular tumors arising from pericytes.
- Distinguishing hemangiopericytomas from meningiomas is crucial for treatment planning.
- Advanced imaging techniques like MRI and CT are essential for characterizing intracranial tumors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detail the computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging characteristics of intracranial hemangiopericytomas.
- To identify imaging features that differentiate hemangiopericytomas from meningiomas.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of CT and MR findings in 34 pathologically confirmed hemangiopericytoma cases.
- Analysis of tumor size, shape, location, associated findings (hydrocephalus, edema, mass effect), dural attachment, bone changes, and enhancement patterns.
Main Results:
- Most tumors were large (≥4 cm), multilobulated, and frequently associated with edema and mass effect.
- Common findings included broad-based dural attachment, bone erosion on CT, and heterogeneous enhancement on both CT and MR.
- The "dural tail" sign was observed in some cases on contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MR imaging.
Conclusions:
- Intracranial hemangiopericytomas are typically large, multilobulated, extraaxial tumors.
- Imaging features such as bone erosion and absence of hyperostosis or calcification are key differentiating factors from meningiomas.