HEMANGIOPERICYTOMA PRESENTING AS A CONGENITAL MIDLINE NASAL MASS

Hemangiopericytoma is a rare tumor that is thought to originate from t he vascular pericytes of Zimmerman. Although they represent less than 1% of all vascular neoplasms, 15% to 30% of these tumors are found in the head and neck, The benign or malignant nature of a hemangiopericyt oma is determined clinically, not histologically, indicating the need for close and careful follow-up. We describe a congenital midline nasa l mass in a 2-year-old boy that proved to be a hemangiopericytoma. Cli nical photographs, a magnetic resonance imaging scan, and histologic p hotographs depict the findings. The evaluation and differential diagno sis of midline nasal masses are discussed.