What Is Hemangioblastoma?

Hemangioblastoma is a highly vascularly differentiated benign tumor produced by the brain and spinal nerves. Most hemangioblastomas arise from a single lesion. However, hemangioblastoma is a manifestation of this genetic syndrome in patients with a so-called "vonHippelLindau" (VHL) disease. Patients will have many tumors in their brain and spinal cord throughout their lives. In the brain, almost all lesions occur in the lower part of the entire brain, in the so-called cerebellum. The main function of the cerebellum in the brain is balance and coordination. Hemangioblastoma has two basic forms, including solid and vesicular. Solid tumors are almost entirely composed of cells, whereas vesicular tumors are composed of a small number of cells accompanied by most vesicles.

Hemangioblastoma is a highly vascularly differentiated benign tumor produced by the brain and spinal nerves. Most hemangioblastomas arise from a single lesion. However, hemangioblastoma is a manifestation of this genetic syndrome in patients with a so-called "vonHippelLindau" (VHL) disease. Patients will have many tumors in their brain and spinal cord throughout their lives. In the brain, almost all lesions occur in the lower part of the entire brain, in the so-called cerebellum. The main function of the cerebellum in the brain is balance and coordination. Hemangioblastoma has two basic forms, including solid and vesicular. Solid tumors are almost entirely composed of cells, whereas vesicular tumors are composed of a small number of cells accompanied by most vesicles.

As hemangioblastoma grows, an increasing tumor will squeeze the brain and cause some neurological symptoms, such as headaches, limb weakness, loss of sensation, balance and coordination problems, or hydrocephalus. In rare cases, this tumor can be unintentionally found due to neurologically unrelated symptoms or diseases.

Causes of Hemangioblastoma

Angio reticuloma is cystic and solid, with cystic type accounting for 60% to 90% and parenchymal type accounting for 10% to 40%. It is derived from mesenchymal tissue around blood vessels. Contains yellow or yellow-brown liquid with high protein content. Most of the cysts have a red tumor nodule that protrudes into the cavity of the cyst. Under the microscope, the tumor consists of two components, blood vessels and cells, that is, a capillary network filled with blood and between blood vessels. Reticuloendothelial cells.

Clinical manifestations of hemangioblastoma

Spinal cord compression but lack of specificity, the course of disease is only a few months in most patients, sometimes the lesion stimulates segmental nerve roots and produces severe root pain is the only symptom. Because the disease is not clinically specific, qualitative diagnosis is difficult Often accompanied by retinal hemangiomas, cutaneous hemangiomas or other congenital lesions.

Hemangioblastoma examination

Hemangioblastoma can be diagnosed by computer tomography or MRI scan. In these tests, after injection of the contrast agent, hemangioblastoma will show bright white lesions in the brain or spinal cord. Hemangioblastoma is often similar to some tumors, such as meningiomas, metastatic brain tumors, or some vascular diseases, such as arteriovenous malformations. Angiography of the brain can sometimes be used to help diagnose hemangioblastoma because Tumors have abundant blood vessels.

Hemangioblastoma diagnosis

In adults with symptoms of cerebellar tumors, in addition to common gliomas, the possibility of this disease should be considered. If retinal hemangiomas, visceral cysts or hemangioma, erythrocytosis, or family history are found, the diagnosis can be basically determined. However, most patients need a CT scan to help diagnose and locate it.

CT scans of parenchymal tumors appear as round-shaped high-density images, often with uneven density, and cystic ones show low-density, but generally higher density than cysts, less sharp edges, and sometimes high-density.

Hemangioblastoma treatment

There are two basic treatment options for hemangioblastoma. The first is an operation that removes a tumor that affects the brain or spinal cord. If the patient's hemangioblastoma can be completely removed, and the disease is not classified as von Hippel Lindau, the patient is cured.
In some patients with typical vesicular hemangioblastoma, only the solid tumor part needs to be removed. As for the vesicular tumor part, it is drained during surgery, and the vesicle will The tumor disappeared after being removed.

If hemangioblastoma cannot be completely removed, the tumor may re-grow or more vesicles may be produced. Any surgery on the brain or spinal cord is invasive and carries certain risks, such as strokes, infections, complications of anesthesia, or neurological defects. Nevertheless, with today's neurosurgical equipment, most hemangioblastomas can be safely removed.

Compared to open brain surgery, stereotactic radiosurgery can be used to locate and destroy hemangioblastoma.

A single dose of radiation surgery causes the cells to die gradually, and then the cells naturally shrink. In patients with hemangioblastoma, only solid tumors need to be removed with radiation surgery; the amount of cystic fluid will gradually decrease and eventually the vesicles will gradually become smaller.