Lipomatous hemangiopericytoma of the sellar region: case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Lipomatous hemangiopericytoma is a rare variant of hemangiopericytoma. Only a few cases of LHPC have been reported to date, with only two cases of this entity having been reported in the head and neck area, and none intracranially. We present the clinical, radiological, and histological features of the first reported case of a sellar lipomatous hemangiopericytoma, and review the literature. Material and Methods We report a case of a 51-year-old man who presented with visual field compromise and was thought to have a pituitary adenoma based on clinical, radiographic and endocrinologic workup; a sellar mass with suprasellar extension was found. Results Histological and immunohistochemical studies demonstrated evidence of a lipomatous hemangiopericytoma of the sellar region. Conclusion A handful of sellar hemangiopericytomas mimicking pituitary adenomas have been previously described. Although one case of lipomatous hemangiopericytoma has been reported in the soft tissues of the occipital region, and one in the skull base and jugular foramen, to our knowledge this is the first reported case of an intracranial (sellar) lipomatous hemangiopericytoma. This tumor represents a distinctive pathologic entity that can only be diagnosed on histological examination.

Keywords: Hemangiopericytoma; Lipomatous Hemangiopericytoma; sella; transsphenoidal approach.