Skip to main content
Advertisement

Main menu

  • Home
  • Content
    • Current Issue
    • Publication Preview--Ahead of Print
    • Past Issue Archive
    • Case of the Week Archive
    • Classic Case Archive
    • Case of the Month Archive
  • For Authors
  • About Us
    • About AJNR
    • Editors
    • American Society of Neuroradiology
  • Submit a Manuscript
  • Podcasts
    • Subscribe on iTunes
    • Subscribe on Stitcher
  • More
    • Subscribers
    • Permissions
    • Advertisers
    • Alerts
    • Feedback
  • Other Publications
    • ajnr

User menu

  • Subscribe
  • Alerts
  • Log in

Search

  • Advanced search
American Journal of Neuroradiology
American Journal of Neuroradiology

American Journal of Neuroradiology

  • Subscribe
  • Alerts
  • Log in

Advanced Search

  • Home
  • Content
    • Current Issue
    • Publication Preview--Ahead of Print
    • Past Issue Archive
    • Case of the Week Archive
    • Classic Case Archive
    • Case of the Month Archive
  • For Authors
  • About Us
    • About AJNR
    • Editors
    • American Society of Neuroradiology
  • Submit a Manuscript
  • Podcasts
    • Subscribe on iTunes
    • Subscribe on Stitcher
  • More
    • Subscribers
    • Permissions
    • Advertisers
    • Alerts
    • Feedback
  • Follow AJNR on Twitter
  • Visit AJNR on Facebook
  • Follow AJNR on Instagram
  • Join AJNR on LinkedIn
  • RSS Feeds
LetterLetter

Orbital Cavernous Hemangiomas

G. Wilms
American Journal of Neuroradiology January 2009, 30 (1) e7; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3174/ajnr.A1271
G. Wilms
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site

We have read with interest the article “Dynamic Enhancement Features of Cavernous Sinus Cavernous Hemangiomas on Conventional Contrast-Enhanced MR Imaging” by Y. Jinhu et al published in the March 2008 issue of the American Journal of Neuroradiology.1 The authors reported progressive contrast “filling in” in cavernous hemangiomas in the cavernous sinus as an important differential diagnostic sign distinguishing them from other tumors in the cavernous sinus. They refer to the pathognomonic features of hepatic cavernous hemangiomas displaying the same temporal enhancement on sequential MR imaging.2

Similar findings were already described by us in orbital cavernous hemangiomas in 1995.3 Progressive and total homogeneous filling up of an orbital mass on gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging was considered by us as a pathognomonic sign of cavernous hemangioma. All the lesions showed the same high intensity on T2-weighted spin-echo images and showed initial patchy enhancement with delayed and progressive filling in. Since then, we have diagnosed several orbital masses as cavernous hemangiomas. In a recent case in a patient with breast carcinoma (Fig 1), the typical features of an orbital cavernous hemangioma were present, with T2 hyperintensity and delayed filling in of contrast. Because the referring clinician did not believe us, pathologic proof of an orbital cavernous hemangioma was obtained after surgical removal of the lesion.

Our experience suggests that cavernous hemangiomas in the cavernous sinus, orbit, and liver have a similar appearance on imaging studies, including strong T2 hyperintensity and progressive filling in on sequential MR imaging on contrast-enhanced studies, possibly corresponding to similar histologic types.

   Fig 1.
  • Download figure
  • Open in new tab
  • Download powerpoint
Fig 1.

Orbital cavernous hemangioma. A, Transverse contrast-enhanced T1-weighted image with fat-saturation immediately after contrast injection. Note patchy central enhancement of the lesion. B, Transverse delayed contrast-enhanced image. Note homogeneous enhancement of the lesion.

References

  1. Jinhu Y, Jianping D, Xin L, et al. Dynamic enhancement features of cavernous sinus cavernous hemangiomas on conventional contrast-enhanced MR imaging. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2008;29:577–81
  2. Jeong MG, Yu JS, Kim KW. Hepatic cavernous hemangioma: temporal peritumoral enhancement during multiphase dynamic MR imaging. Radiology 2000;216:692–97
  3. Wilms G, Raat H, Dom R, et al. Orbital cavernous hemangioma: findings on sequential Gd-enhanced MRI. J Comput Assist Tomogr 1995;19:548–51
  • Copyright © American Society of Neuroradiology
Advertisement

News and Updates

  • Lucien Levy Best Research Article Award
  • Thanks to our 2020 Distinguished Reviewers
  • Press Releases

Resources

  • Evidence-Based Medicine Level Guide
  • How to Participate in a Tweet Chat
  • AJNR Podcast Archive
  • Ideas for Publicizing Your Research
  • Librarian Resources
  • Terms and Conditions

Opportunities

  • Share Your Art in Perspectives
  • Get Peer Review Credit from Publons
  • Moderate a Tweet Chat

American Society of Neuroradiology

  • Neurographics
  • ASNR Annual Meeting
  • Fellowship Portal
  • Position Statements

© 2021 by the American Society of Neuroradiology | Print ISSN: 0195-6108 Online ISSN: 1936-959X

Powered by HighWire