Occipital scalp hemangioma: prenatal sonographic and magnetic resonance images.

Fetal scalp hemangioma in the occipital region is extremely rare and its accurate diagnosis is essential for perinatal management. We present a case of occipital scalp hemangioma diagnosed by prenatal sonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An echogenic mass measuring 29 mm x 23 mm x 30 mm was found in the occipital region by sonography at 20 weeks of gestation. Color-flow Doppler sonography depicted vascularity only at the periphery of the mass. The MRI results indicated that the extracranial mass exhibited a heterogeneous appearance of predominantly hyperintensity on T1- and hypointensity on T2-weighted images without evidence of fat signals, suggesting a soft tissue lesion containing blood products. Based on sonographic and MRI findings, the fetus was diagnosed to have occipital scalp hemangioma. Postmortem examination revealed cavernous hemangioma with hemorrhage. The MRI was a valuable adjunct to sonography for prenatal evaluation of an occipital lesion.