American Journal of Neuroradiology, Vol 17, Issue 7 1365-1371, Copyright © 1996 by American Society of Neuroradiology
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Intracranial hemangiopericytomas: MR and CT features
MV Chiechi, JG Smirniotopoulos and H Mena
Department of Radiologic Pathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, DC, USA.
PURPOSE: To describe the MR and CT imaging features of hemangiopericytoma and to identify the characteristics that might distinguish them from meningioma. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the CT and MR findings in 34 pathologically proved cases of hemangiopericytoma. We evaluated the size, shape, and location of the tumor; the presence of hydrocephalus, edema, and mass effect; the type of dural attachment (broad-based or narrow-based) and bone changes (erosion, hyperostosis); and the tumor's density, signal, and contrast- enhancement characteristics. RESULTS: Thirty of 34 tumors were 4 cm or more in greatest dimension, 32 were lobular, and only seven were in the posterior fossa. Hydrocephalus was present in 18, edema in 30, and mass effect in 33. Twenty-three had broad-based dural attachment and 11 had narrow-based attachment. All 26 unenhanced CT scans showed hyperdense tumors; 19 were heterogeneous and seven homogeneous. All 27 contrast- enhanced CT scans showed enhancement; 17 were heterogeneous and 10 homogeneous. Bone erosion was present in 17 of 29 hemangiopericytomas imaged with CT. None had hyperostosis or tumor calcifications. On T1- weighted MR images, 13 of 17 tumors were isointense with cortical gray matter; on T2-weighted image, 10 of 17 were isointense. All 14 tumors imaged with contrast enhanced T1-weighted MR imaging showed enhancement, and 13 of these were heterogeneous; eight of the 14 had a "dural tail" sign. CONCLUSION: Intracranial hemangiopericytomas are multilobulated, extraaxial tumors, sometimes associated with narrow- based dural attachment and bone erosion. Unlike with meningiomas, hyperostosis and intratumoral calcification are not present.
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