Posterior cervical haemangiopericytoma with intracranial and skull base extension. Diagnostic and therapeutic challenge of a rare hypervascular neoplasm

J Neuroradiol. 2003 Jun;30(3):180-7.

Abstract

Haemangiopericytomas are rare hypervascular tumors arising from pericytes. They may occur anywhere in the body, but posterior cervical location is rather uncommon. A case of posterior cervical haemangiopericytoma with posterior fossa and temporal bone extension is reported. Although the patient had undergone preoperative endovascular embolization and surgical resection on three separate occasions, control of the skull base extension was not successful. Following endovascular embolization combined with radiotherapy, the patient has been asymptomatic for 48 months. Angiographic features may help in differentiating haemangiopericytomas from other hypervascular lesions. Preoperative endovascular embolization is recommended due to the pronounced tendency for haemorrhage throughout biopsy and surgical procedures.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Cervical Vertebrae / diagnostic imaging*
  • Cervical Vertebrae / pathology*
  • Female
  • Hemangiopericytoma / diagnostic imaging*
  • Hemangiopericytoma / pathology*
  • Hemangiopericytoma / therapy
  • Humans
  • Infratentorial Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Infratentorial Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Infratentorial Neoplasms / therapy
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / diagnostic imaging*
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / pathology*
  • Radiography
  • Spinal Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Spinal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Spinal Neoplasms / therapy
  • Temporal Bone / diagnostic imaging*
  • Temporal Bone / pathology*