Intracranial angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma presenting as recurrent multifocal intraparenchymal hemorrhage

Abstract

Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma (AFH) is a rare soft-tissue neoplasm that most commonly appears in the limbs, typically affecting children and young adults. The tumor has a propensity for local recurrence and recurrent hemorrhage but rarely for remote metastasis. To date, only 2 reports have documented an intracranial occurrence of the tumor (1 of which was believed to be metastatic disease). This is the second report of primary intracranial AFH. Additionally, hemorrhage from an intracranial AFH lesion has yet to be reported, and little is known about the radiographic characteristics and biological behavior of these lesions. In this report, the authors describe the case of a patient with recurrent hemorrhage due to primary multifocal intracranial AFH. Initially misdiagnosed as a cavernous malformation and then an unusual meningioma, the tumor was finally correctly identified when there was a large enough intact resection specimen to reveal the characteristic histological pattern. The diagnosis was confirmed using immunohistochemical and molecular studies.