A 47-year-old man underwent surgery for syncytial meningioma. Twelve months later neuroimaging demonstrated recurrence, showing an intra-axial ring-enhanced cystic lesion in the site of previous surgery. High-grade glioma was suspected. Neuropathologist's diagnosis was 'intraparenchymal rhabdoid meningioma'. The case raises questions about behaviour of meningiomas and their differential diagnosis with gliomas.