Two patients with intracavernous haemangiopericytoma

Haemangiopericytomas are relatively uncommon intracranial lesions making up less than 2.5% of all intracranial meningiomas. Their location in the cavernous sinus is extremely rare. We discuss two patients with haemangiopericytomas located entirely within the dural confines of the cavernous sinus treated in the Department of Neurosurgery at King Edward Memorial Hospital. Both tumours were radically and successfully resected using a basal temporal extradural approach. No post-operative adjuvant treatment was given. There was recurrence in both patients 3 and 10 years after surgery. Though extremely rare, haemangiopericyomas can occur in the cavernous sinus. Total excision is possible through a basal temporal extradural approach. We briefly review the literature on the subject and the probable treatment strategy for this rare location of haemangiopericytoma. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier Ltd.