title: Intracranial extra-axial cavernous angioma of the cerebellar falx.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intracranial cavernous hemangiomas are benign vascular malformations that can be divided into intra-axial and extra-axial types. Extra-axial cavernous angiomas (or hemangiomas) are rare lesions; intracranially, they arise in relation to the dura mater or at a spinal level mimicking meningiomas. They are very rarely reported in the posterior cranial fossa.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors report a case of a cavernous angioma that occurred in the cerebellar falx of a 58-year-old man. The lesion was discovered during cranial computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations. The patient underwent surgery with en-bloc removal of the tumor. No significant intraoperative bleeding or complications occurred during the postoperative course.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intra-axial and extra-axial cavernous angiomas are histopathologically identical lesions, but by the radiological features, it is very difficult to distinguish the extra-axial cavernous angiomas from meningiomas, especially when dural tail sign and calcification are present.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Science-Neurosurgery, University Sapienza, Rome, Italy. melgra80@yahoo.it
authors.forename: Angelina Graziella
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Melone
authors.forename: Catia P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Delfinis
authors.forename: Emiliano
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Passacantilli
authors.forename: Jacopo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lenzi
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santoro
mesh_terms: D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D020786:Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D015192:Infratentorial Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged