title: Cavernous hemangioma of the dura mater mimicking meningioma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cavernomas are benign lesions that most commonly occur intra-parenchymally, but occasionally they have been described as arising from the dura mater. Extra-axial cavernous angiomas (or hemangiomas) account for 0.4-2% of all intracranial vascular malformations, and they usually occur in the middle cranial fossa, associated with the cavernous sinus. Other possible localizations (e.g. tentorium, convexity, anterior cranial fossa, cerebellopontine angle, Meckel's cave, sella turcica and internal auditory meatus) are rare, and they account only for 0.2-0.5%.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a case of a 30-year-old female presenting with a 2 years history of headache unresponsive to drug therapy. The magnetic resonance imaging showed a dural-based lesion in the left frontal region; the lesion size was: 1.5 cm × 3.5 cm. The appearance suggested a convexity meningioma. A left frontal craniotomy was performed, and the histopathological diagnosis deposed for a cavernous hemangioma of the dura mater. The follow-up at 1-year was good without any neurologic deficit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dural-based cavernous hemangiomas of the convexity are uncommon lesions. Up to now, only 13 cases have been described in the literature. The authors have discussed clinical aspects, radiological features, surgical treatment, and operative findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences (MESVA), University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Hambra
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Di Vitantonio
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, San Salvatore City Hospital, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Danilo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Paulis
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, San Salvatore City Hospital, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, San Salvatore City Hospital, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences (MESVA), University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Soheila Raysi
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Dehcordi
authors.affiliation: Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences (MESVA), University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Renato Juan
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Galzio
keywords: Convexity; dural cavernous hemangioma; meningioma