Posterior fossa haemangioblastomas in Northern Ireland: a clinico-epidemiological study

A retrospective study of 25 patients who presented with posterior fossa haemangioblastomas to the Northern Ireland Regional Neurosurgical Centre over the past 25 years has been carried out. The epidemiological and clinical features and the results after operative treatment are presented and compared with other series. Posterior fossa haemangioblastomas were more common in female than in male patients and solid tumours accounted for 40% of all cases. While only two patients had associated polycythaemia, five patients (20%) were found to have persistent leucocytosis pre-operatively, while 24% had von Hippel-Lindau complex including two patients who were operated upon for an associated spinal haemangioblastoma. Of particular interest was a patient who had neurofibromatosis. There was no perioperative deaths. Patients with solid tumours fared badly in the long term compared with those who had a cystic type.