Lesão Incomum da Base do Crânio: Hemangiopericitoma da Fossa Craniana Média

Abstract

Meningioma is the most common intracranial tumor affecting the skull base and the diagnosis is usually straightforward on imaging studies. However, other lesions may present similar findings. A 60 year-old-man presented with memory loss and behavioral changes. Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging disclosed an extra-axial, dural-based lesion of the middle cranial fossa. The lesion was strongly enhanced and of hypervascular nature, peripheral vessels and vasogenic edema of the adjacent brain parenchyma. Although the most common dural-based lesion of the central nervous system (CNS) is the meningioma, radiologists should be aware of other differential diagnoses, particularly when facing atypical imaging features. These comprise metastases, lymphoma and leukemia, histiocytic lesions, sarcoidosis and hemangiopericytoma. Based on imaging findings we were able to suggest the hemangiopericytoma diagnosis and the patient was subject to tumoral resection surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy. A small tumoral residue remains stable on follow-up studies.