NEURORADIOLOGICAL FEATURES OF INTRACRANIAL AND INTRAORBITAL MENINGEALHEMANGIOPERICYTOMAS

The neuroradiological features of six intracranial and one intraorbita l haemangiopericytomas (HP) are reviewed. CT was performed before and after IV contrast medium in 5 patients. Ir. 2 patients MRI was perform ed before and after contrast medium; in another, only unenhanced image s were obtained. Five patients were studied by selective external and internal carotid artery angiography. Women constituted 5 of the 7 pati ents, and the mean age was 50.5 years, thus the sex and age distributi on did not differ from that of typical meningiomas. Contrary to previo us reports, calcification was present in two of the intracranial HP, a nd bone erosion was clearly seen in one intracranial HP and the orbita l lesion. On MRI the tumours showed no differences from angioblastic m eningiomas. All 6 intracranial HP were aggressive; all recurred follow ing treatment and extracerebral metastasis occurred in one case.