Intracranial Capillary Hemangiomas: Clinical Insights and Imaging Approaches

Intracranial capillary hemangiomas are rare benign vascular tumours arising within the central nervous system. They characteristically consist of a lobular proliferation of capillary-sized vessels lined by a single layer of endothelial cells. Clinically, these lesions may present with headaches, focal neurological deficits, seizures or, in infants, signs of raised intracranial pressure such as vomiting and increased head circumference. Imaging plays a central role in diagnosis and surgical planning. On magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), capillary hemangiomas are typically isointense to grey matter on T1-weighted sequences and hyperintense on T2-weighted sequences, with vivid enhancement following gadolinium administration. Computed tomography (CT) may reveal a well-circumscribed lesion with possible calcification or bone remodelling when adjacent to the skull vault. Histopathological confirmation remains the gold standard, supported by immunohistochemical markers such as CD31. Treatment strategies focus on complete surgical excision, which is often curative. In cases of incomplete resection, adjuvant therapies including fractionated radiotherapy or pharmacological agents—most notably propranolol in infantile forms—have shown efficacy. Early recognition and accurate imaging differentiation from mimics such as meningioma, cavernous malformation or metastasis are essential to optimise outcomes.

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Intracranial Capillary Hemangiomas: Clinical Insights and Imaging Approaches publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in intracranial capillary hemangiomas: clinical insights and imaging approaches across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Capillary haemangioma: A benign vascular tumour composed of closely packed capillary-sized blood vessels.

Neuraxis: The central nervous system axis, comprising the brain and spinal cord.

T1-weighted imaging: An MRI sequence in which fat appears bright and fluid appears dark, useful for anatomical detail.

Gadolinium enhancement: The use of a contrast agent to increase the visibility of vascular structures and blood–brain barrier disruption on MRI.

References

1. Infantile Hemangiomas Involving the Neuraxis: Clinical and Imaging Findings. American Journal of Neuroradiology (2009).
2. Safe and Effective Treatment of Intracranial Infantile Hemangiomas with Beta-Blockers. Pediatric Reports (2021).
3. Intracranial Infantile Hemangioma: Highlighting a Rare Presentation With a Case Report and Literature Review. Cureus (2024).
4. Intraparenchymal cerebellar capillary hemangioma in a 32-year-old man: a case report. Frontiers in Surgery (2023).