LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Year : 2014  |  Volume : 9  |  Issue : 1  |  Page : 90-91

Traumatic enlargement of an intradiploic cavernous hemangioma

Amit Mahore¹, Raghvendra Ramdasi¹, Anvita Pauranik², Naina Goel^3
1 Department of Neurosurgery, King Edward Memorial Hospital and Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
² Department of Radiology, King Edward Memorial Hospital and Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
³ Department of Neuropathoogy, King Edward Memorial Hospital and Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Date of Web Publication

25-Apr-2014

Correspondence Address:
Amit Mahore
Department of Neurosurgery, King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, Seth GS Medical College, Parel, Mumbai - 400 012, Maharashtra
India

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None

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DOI: 10.4103/1817-1745.131502

How to cite this article: Mahore A, Ramdasi R, Pauranik A, Goel N. Traumatic enlargement of an intradiploic cavernous hemangioma. J Pediatr Neurosci 2014;9:90-1

How to cite this URL: Mahore A, Ramdasi R, Pauranik A, Goel N. Traumatic enlargement of an intradiploic cavernous hemangioma. J Pediatr Neurosci [serial online] 2014 [cited 2022 Aug 12];9:90-1. Available from: https://www.pediatricneurosciences.com/text.asp?2014/9/1/90/131502

Sir,

A 15-year-old male, who had prominent inion since early childhood, presented with fall on occiput followed by transient loss of consciousness to our emergency department. Neurological examination was normal, except a nontender unduely prominent inion. Axial computed tomography (CT) revealed a focal bony swelling at the external occipital protuberance, without any parenchymal abnormality [Figure 1]a. Biopsy of the lesion was advised, but patient and relatives ignored the medical advice. Patient reported to us after 18 months when he developed severe occipital headache on lying supine. The pain forced him to sleep in lateral postures only. Local examination revealed tenderness and significant increase in size of swelling at the external occipital protuberance measuring 7 Χ 6 Χ 6 cm in size. Neurological examination was normal. CT brain showed an expansile lytic lesion involving the occipital bone having a coarse bony matrix and radiating spicules. There was erosion of both inner and outer tables of skull [Figure 1]b. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a T2 heterogeneously hyperintense, T1 isointense, and intensely enhancing mass with intracranial extradural extension. A large soft tissue component in the scalp was also present [Figure 1]c-e. Surgical excision of the lesion was done with margin of surrounding normal bone. The lesion was intradiploic in location with expansion of outer and inner tables of skull. The underlying dura was intact, however, mass effect on venous sinuses was present. Careful preservation of the torcula and venous sinuses was done. The bone defect was filled with appropriately tailored bone cement. Histopathology revealed anastomosing, mainly thin-walled vascular channels lined by a single layer of flattened to plump endothelial cells. The tumor cells were seen amidst the bony trabeculae. These findings were suggestive of intraosseous cavernous hemangioma[Figure 2]. Postoperatively, patient was relieved of his pain and was able to lie supine comfortably. Follow-up CT of head showed complete excision of the lesion without recurrence [Figure 1]f.

Figure 1: (a) Axial plain CT shows a focal bony swelling at the external occipital protuberance. (b) Axial CT reveals gross enlargement of the lesion showing an expansile lytic tumor involving the occipital bone with a coarse bony matrix. Erosion of inner and outer table of skull vault is present. (c) Axial T2-weighted MRI shows a heterogeneously hyperintense lesion with hypointense borders. (d) Unenhanced sagittal T1-weighted MRI shows a hypointense lobulated mass which shows (e) intense post-contrast enhancement. (f) Follow-up CT shows complete excision without recurrence. CT = Computed tomography, MRI = magnetic resonance imaging Click here to view

Figure 2: Photomicrograph shows anastomosing, mainly thin-walled vascular channels lined by a single layer of fl attened to plump endothelial cells amidst the bony trabeculae (hematoxylin and eosin (H and E), ×400) Click here to view

Primary intraosseous hemangiomas are uncommon bony tumors with an incidence of 0.7-1% ^[1] with majority occurring in the calvaria and vertebrae. Frontal and parietal bones are common location in the skull with a female preponderance. Occipital location is very rarely reported with these benign bony vascular lesions. ^[1] Cavernous type is commoner in skull than capillary hemangiomas, which is frequently seen in vertebral column. ^[2] These commonly manifest clinically during adulthood unlike capillary hemangiomas of infancy and childhood, which are visible on the surface. The giant lesions are more than 5 cm in size.

Etiology is believed to be congenital origin or previous trauma. ^[2] These arise from vessels present in the intradiploic space and derive their blood supply from the branches of external carotid system such as middle meningeal and superficial temporal artery. ^[2]

These grow slowly and present with pain at the local site and visible or palpable swelling over the head. ^[3] Other symptoms are referable to the site of their occurence. The major clinical problem associated with these tumors is blood steal from brain parenchyma and resultant atrophy and mental retardation. Other may be congestive heart failure and thrombocytopenia known in this setting as Kasabach-Merritt syndrome. ^{[1],[2],[3],[4]} Our patient had posttraumatic enlargement of the lesion, which was initially very small. We believe that the role of trauma in etiopathogenesis is controversial. The trauma may be attention drawing to asymptomatic lesion or may cause enlargement by intratumoral bleed.

The imaging appearance of calvarial hemangiomas can be characteristic. On plain radiographs, they show sunburst of radiating trabeculae having peripheral sclerotic rim. ^[1] This is due to gradual erosion of surrounding bone as they grow. On CT, calvarial hemangiomas are lytic lesions with multiple interposed trabeculae. On MRI, these lesions are hyperintense on T1- and T2-weighted imaging (WI) with intense post-contrast enhancement. However, the intensity on T1-WI is variable depending upon the presence of fat. ^[1]

The common differentials include aneurysmal bone cyst, giant cell tumor, Langerhans' cell histiocytosis, sarcoma, meningioma, metastatic disease, and dermoid tumor. ^[3]

Complete surgical excision is the treatment of choice. ^[4] Most important goal at the time of surgery is control of bleeding. Preoperative embolization is one option. Other strategy is excision of the tumor with surrounding rim of normal bone without entering into the tumor.

Intradiploic hemangioma of the occipital bone is a rare bony vascular tumor. Giant hemangiomas of this region with traumatic enlargement have rarely been reported.

 

References

1.	Nair P, Srivastava AK, Kumar R, Jain K, Sahu RN, Vij M, et al. Giant primary intraosseous calvarial hemangioma of the occipital bone. Neurol India 2011;59:775-6.   [PUBMED]
2.	Khanam H, Lipper MH, Wolff CL, Lopes MB. Calvarial hemangiomas: Report of two cases and review of the literature. Surg Neurol 2001;55:63-7.
3.	Tyagi DK, Balasubramaniam S, Sawant HV. Giant primary ossified cavernous hemangioma of the skull in an adult: A rare calvarial tumor. J Neurosci Rural Pract 2011;2:174-7.   [PUBMED]
4.	Sweet C, Richard S, Mehta B. Primary intraosseous hemangioma of the orbit: CT and MR appearance. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 1997;18:379-81.

Figures

  [Figure 1], [Figure 2]