[Hemangioblastoma of the cauda equina]

Hemangioblastomas are dysontogenetic tumors of the central nervous system. They occur as single tumors or multiple. Hereditary and sporadic cases are known. The most frequent localisations are the retina and cerebellum but they can be localized at any site of the neuraxis. In a 37 year old male patient a solitary hemangioblastoma of the cauda equina was demonstrated by myelography and totally removed by laminectomy. In the literature 17 cases of isolated hemangioblastomas of the cauda equina are described. A further 16 cases of were observed within a Lindau-complex, 10 of which remained without symptoms. For diagnosis of the type of tumor a myelography is rarely sufficient. The only successful therapeutic measure is total surgical removal.