Meningioma manifesting intracerebral haemorrhage: a possible mechanism of haemorrhage

Abstract

We present a possible mechanism of intracerebral peritumoural haemorrhage in meningioma based on the clinical data of three of our cases. A meningioma manifesting intracerebral haemorrhage is uncommon and some sporadic case reports have been presented, but without any proven mechanisms. We are presenting three cases of convexity meningioma manifesting spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage with apoplectiform onset. All three patients had no evidence of bleeding tendency or other predisposing factors for haemorrhage. Preoperative radiological studies showed a solid mass attached to the dura with intracerebral peritumoural haematoma. Total removal of the tumour and haematoma could be achieved in every case. Histological investigation revealed extensive tumour infarction in two cases and fibrosis related to pre-existing ischaemia in the other case. The diagnoses were atypical meningioma in two cases and transitional type in one case. We suggest that extensive tumour infarction might be a cause of spontaneous intracerebral peritumoural haemorrhage in our series of patients.