Malignant spread of haemangioblastoma: report on two cases

Two cases are described in which, after successful removal of a cerebellar haemangioblastoma followed by several years of freedom from symptoms, there developed a progressive spinal cord compression, leading to death. At necropsy the spinal cords in both cases and the brainstem in one case, were irregularly plastered with haemangioblastoma. Although there was no doubt that malignant spread had occurred from one or more primary tumours, the histology of the tumour tissue was in no way different from that of conventional haemangioblastoma.