Hemangiopericytoma of the third ventricle - Case report

The authors present the first reported case of a hemangiopericytoma (KPC) o ccurring in the third ventricle. Most of these lesions are based in the men inges. There is only one other reported case of an intraventricular HPC; in that case the lesion was found in the lateral ventricle. A 40-year-old right-handed man presented with a 3-month history of headache s. Clinical evaluation, including computerized tomography and magnetic reso nance imaging studies, revealed a l-cm enhancing lesion in the third ventri cle. Given the findings on the preoperative imaging studies, the lesion was not consistent with some of the more commonly occurring tumors of the thir d ventricle, namely colloid cysts. A transcortical approach and resection o f the lesion was performed without complication. The final pathological fin dings were consistent with those of an HPC. Hemangiopericytomas rarely occur in the ventricles and may pose a difficult diagnostic dilemma based on their radiographic and gross appearances, as s hown in this case. Because of this difficulty, histological confirmation is required to make a definitive diagnosis. These lesions have a propensity t o recur and metastasize in the central nervous system and periphery, thus m aking the goal of treatment a complete surgical resection followed by posto perative radiation therapy in most cases.