Hemangiopericytoma of the pineal region

Abstract

We report a unique case of a 37-year-old female suffering from hemangiopericytoma of the pineal region, successfully excised by surgery. Hemangiopericytomas are rare malignant vascular tumors arising from mesenchymal cells with pericytic differentiation. These tumors usually develop in the limbs, pelvis, head, neck, and mostly in the muscle tissue. They are aggressive lesions that tend to occur at an earlier age than other meningeal tumors, recur with high frequency, and metastasize extracranially. Hemangiopericytomas represent less than 1% of all CNS tumors. Surgery remains the mainstay treatment. Radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy are the other treatment options.