Hemangiopericytoma

A hemangiopericytoma is a rare vascular tumor that originates in pericytes. It can arise in any part of the body, but its appearance in the sinonasal area is uncommon. (1) We evaluated a 60-year-old man who had a history of chronic intermittent epistaxis. Computed tomography (CT) of the paranasal sinuses detected a well-marginated soft-tissue mass in the superior nasal cavity, which extended into the right ethmoid sinus (figure).

The mass was completely removed during endoscopic surgery, and it proved to be a hemangiopericytoma. A cerebrospinal fluid fistula that had developed during surgery was repaired intraoperatively. Postoperatively, the patient was referred for radiotherapy.

Both malignant and benign clinical courses have been described in cases of sinonasal hemangiopericytoma, and local recurrence and metastases have been observed years after the initial diagnosis. (2)

References

(1.) Weber W, Henkes H, Metz KA, et al. Haemangiopericytoma of the nasal cavity. Neuroradiology 2001;43:183-6.

(2.) Billings KR, Fu YS, Calcaterra TC, Secarz JA. Hemangiopericytoma of the head and neck. Am J Otolaryngol 2001;21:238-43.

From the Department of Otorhinolaryngology (Dr. Harrison and Dr. Fazekas) and the Department of Radiology (Dr. Palacios), Louisiana State University Health Science Center, New Orleans.

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