Intraspinal hemangioblastoma: analysis of 22 cases

Hemangioblastomas of the spinal cord are relatively uncommon benign tumors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical features, management strategies and outcomes in patients with spinal hemangioblastomas. We retrospectively analyzed 22 patients who were operated on for spinal hemangioblastoma at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India. In our center, 113 patients with hemangioblastomas had been managed over a 14-year period (1992-2006). Ninety-one of these hemangioblastomas were intracranial and 22 were intraspinal. The average age of patients was 35.9 years. The most common location was the cervical region. The most common presenting feature was progressive compressive myelopathy (22 patients). An associated syrinx was seen in 87% of cases. Gross total resection was achieved in all patients. All but two improved or stabilized with respect to their preoperative neurological status. This is one of the larger series in the literature on spinal hemangioblastoma. We discuss the modes of presentation, surgical management strategies and excellent functional outcome after microsurgical excision.