Giant intracranial capillary hemangioma associated with enlarged head circumference in a newborn

 The authors describe the case of a patient with an intracranial capillary hemangioma, and they review the recent literature on intracranial capillary hemangiomas with special attention to their differential diagnosis and management.

The only sign in this 7-week-old boy was head enlargement. There were no neurological deficits, and imaging revealed a large intracranial lesion in the right temporal fossa. The results of biopsy confirmed the diagnosis, and, after endovascular embolization, the entire lesion was resected.

The incidence of intracranial capillary hemangioma is very low but may be underestimated. In the present case, the size of the tumor prompted surgical treatment. The natural behavior of extracranial capillary hemangiomas, however, suggests that a conservative approach with follow-up and steroid therapy may also be considered.