Clinics in diagnostic imaging (49). Cerebello-tonsillar haemangioblastoma

A 39-year-old man with cerebello-tonsillar haemangioblastoma is presented,with emphasis on its morphological and imaging features. Although both computed tomography and cerebral angiography are very useful imaging modalities in helping to establish a radiological diagnosis, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is more accurate and sensitive in depicting the lesion nature and extent. MR imaging is especially reliable in detecting multiple and other associated lesions within the central nervous system, such that a conclusive diagnosis of the von Hippel-Lindau syndrome can be made in selected cases. It is important to identify isolated haemangioblastomas as they constitute a relatively high percentage of benign resectable tumours within the posterior fossa.The differential diagnosis and imaging features of other posterior fossa tumours are also discussed.