OBJECTIVETo investigate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of capillary hemangioma in the brain to improve the diagnosis of capillary hemangioma.

METHODSThe MRI findings were analyzed in 6 patients with pathologically confirmed capillary hemangioma in the brain to define the characteristic MRI features of capillary hemangioma.

RESULTSIn the 6 patients, the capillary hemangiomas were located in the pons (n=1), bulbus medullae (n=1), bilateral cerebellar hemisphere (n=1), right temporal lobe (n=1) or left frontal lobe (n=1). Three patients had subacute hemorrhage, 2 had cystic degeneration and 1 had solid tumors, all shoeing heterogeneous MRI signals. Contrast-enhanced MR scans revealed marked heterogeneous enhancement with clear boundaries of the tumor parenchyma, where spots and thin strips without enhancement were seen in 5 cases; vascular network was seen in 1 case. Drainage vessels connected to the lesions were found in 3 cases.

CONCLUSIONMRI has a high diagnostic value for intracranial capillary hemangioma.