ABSTRACT

Hemangiopericytoma is an uncommon, highly vascular tumor of pericyte origin that may occur anywhere capillaries are found. These tumors are usually located in the musculoskeletal system, retroperitoneum and the skin. Their intracranial localization is rare. Hemangiopericytomas have a predilection for both local and distant central nervous system recurrences and exhibit an incre-ased tendency to metastasize compared with nonmalignant meningiomas. The biological beha-vior of hemangiopericytoma is sometimes malignant although it is considered grade II-III. Local tumor recurrence after many years is not uncommon, and late and widespread extracranial me-tastases may occur although this is rare in other intracranial tumors. A 46-year old male who had a recurrent intracranial hemangiopericytoma with multiple metastases such as cervical vertebrae, paravertebral soft tissue, lung, kidney and shoulder has been reported.