To recognize theimaging findings of uncommon tumors of the meninges simulating meningioma. Torecognizethe imaging findings oftumor likelesions of meninges that can help to differentiate from meningiomas and other uncommon tumors of meninges.

Though meningiomas (most common primary intracranial adult tumours) and meningitis occurs frequently, several non-infectious inflammatory, neoplastic, nonspecific and vascular lesions can affect the meninges. Many tumours viz, extra axial cavernous hemangioma, chondrosarcoma and tumour like lesions of the meninges (Wegener’s, Sarcoidosis) needs to be differentiated from meningiomas, since the treatment plan is different and there is potential risk of misdiagnosing these conditions.

Imaging findings: This study exhibits uncommon tumours of meninges mimicking meningiomas and tumour like lesions of meninges. A) Uncommon tumours of meninges mimicking meningiomas are as follows: Extra axial hemangioma Cavernous angiomas in the brain are usually intra-axial lesions. Extra-axial cavernous angiomas are rare benign and slow-growing lesions and generally occur in the cavernous sinuses, Meckel's cavity, paracavernous regions and posterior fossa (1). Cavernous angiomas have a tendency to bleed and can present with intra lesional bleed or as subarachnoid hemorrhage. It may be difficult...

MR imaging thus helps in recognizing these conditions and plays an important role in treatment plan. Broad understanding of the spectrum of the meningeal lesions, awareness, and familiarity with these findings will narrow the differential diagnosis, act as tool for guiding patient management and in some cases, preclude unnecessary surgery.

Dr. N. CHIDAMBARANATHAN, MD,PhD,DNB,DMRD,FICR,MAMS, Head of Department of Radiology& Imaging Sciences, Apollo Hospitals , 21, Greams Lane, Chennai 600006, India Phone 91-44-28290580 Mobile 91 9840031045 Email: [email protected]

1)Rajesh.K Ghanta,PerumalluTangella,KalyanKoti,andSrinivasDandamudi.A rare case of an extra-axial cavernous angioma in the cerebellopontine angle. J Neurosci Rural Pract. 2013 Apr-Jun; 4(2): 210–212. 2)Joshi V, Muzumdar D, Dange N, Goel A. Supratentorial convexity dural-based cavernous hemangioma mimicking a meningioma in a child. Pediatr Neurosurg 2009;45:141-5. 3). Chiechi MV, Smirniotopoulos JG, Mena H. Intracranial hemangiopericytomas: MR and CT features. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 1996;17:1365–1371. 4). Akiyama M, Sakai H, Onoue H, Miyazaki Y, Abe T. Imaging intracranial haemangiopericytomas: study of seven cases. Neuroradiology. 2004;46:194–197. 5) Ya-Yen Lee, Pamela...