[Hemangioendothelioma of the brain presenting with intracerebral hemorrhage: a case report].

Hemangioendothelioma (HE) is an uncommon vascular tumor that is intermediate in histological appearance between a hemangioma and an angiosarcoma. Presently, it is regarded as endothelial tumors of low-grade or intermediate malignancy. It has been reported in the liver, lung, heart, mediastinum, lymph nodes, extremity, and bone. The occurrence in the brain is extremely rare; only 16 cases have so far been reported. We report a 51-year-old woman who presented with transient visual disturbance and weakness of the left upper limb on April 12th 2003. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a high density mass in the right parietal lobe. In magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the lesion is hyperintense on TIWI, isointense on T2WI, and no enhancement with gadopentetate dimegliumine. Intratumoral hemorrhage was indicated and preoperative diagnosis was cavernous angioma. The tumor was excised completely on April 28th 2003. Pathologically, the tumor cells resembled endothelial cells, positive immunoreactivity for Factor VIII, and grew in small nests or cords. Postoperative MRI showed complete removal of the tumor. There has been no recurrence for 8 months after the surgery, but we have to follow MRI up for a long time. We discussed intracerebral HE clinically and neuroradiologically.