Intracranial Meningeal Hemangiopericytoma: Case Report and Literature Review
Julia Brasileiro de Faria Cavalcante, Pedro Nogarotto Cembraneli, Italo Nogarotto Cembraneli, Renata Brasileiro de Faria Cavalcante, José Edison da Silva Cavalcante, Leonardo Taveira Lopes, Alessandro Fonseca Cardoso, Chrystiano Fonseca Cardoso
Hemangiopericytoma (HPC) is a rare mesenchymal tumor, often located in extracranial areas, and when
found in the meninges, it can be mistaken for meningiomas. Intracranial HPC accounts for approximately
0.4% of all brain tumors. These tumors are classified into three types based on biological behavior:
benign (Type I), atypical (Type II), and malignant (Type III). Malignant HPCs are characterized by
high recurrence rates and metastatic potential. Differential diagnosis between HPC and meningioma
is challenging due to similar clinical and radiological features; however, STAT6 immunohistochemical
expression is a key marker for differentiation. Imaging techniques such as contrast-enhanced MRI and
positron emission tomography (PET) are valuable in preoperative tumor characterization. This report
presents a 29-year-old female with recurrent severe headaches and a temporoparietal extra-axial tumor,
initially diagnosed as meningioma via imaging. Postoperative histological analysis confirmed the
diagnosis of HPC. Despite total surgical resection, the patient experienced local recurrence, requiring
further surgical intervention and adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy. HPC is more aggressive than
meningioma, with a recurrence rate of 91% and metastasis to various organs. Preoperative embolization
can minimize intraoperative bleeding risks due to the tumor's vascularity. Early diagnosis and vigilant
postoperative follow-up are critical for improving patient outcomes and managing recurrence and
metastasis.
