Relationship between Spinal Hemangioblastoma Location and Age

Abstract

Study design: Retrospective case series.

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between tumor location and clinical characteristics.

Overview of literature: Hemangioblastoma is a rare disease that develops in the central nervous system. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is useful to evaluate hemangioblastomas. Hemangioblastoma's location is designated as intramedullary, intramedullary+extramedullary, or extramedullary by MRI.

Methods: We analyzed 11 patients who underwent surgery for spinal hemangioblastoma. Using T1 contrast axial MRI data, the cases were divided into three groups (intramedullary, intramedullary+extramedullary, and extramedullary). Patient demographics, MRI findings, and preoperative neurological status were analyzed and compared for each group.

Results: The average age of patients with intramedullary, intramedullary+extramedullary, and extramedullary hemangioblastoma was 34.0, 64.4, and 67.5 years, respectively. Patients in the intramedullary hemangioblastoma group were younger than the other groups. Extramedullary cases had a smaller syrinx compared to the other groups.

Conclusions: Age may play an important role in the hemangioblastoma tumor location and the subsequent diagnosis by an MRI.

Keywords: Age; Magnetic resonance imaging; Spinal hemangioblastoma; Tumor location.

Fig. 1. A case of intramedullary hemangioblastoma. On the contrast axial T1WI magnetic resonance imaging, a focal tumor was observed in the intramedullary region (focal type).

Fig. 2. A case of intramedullary+extramedullary hemangioblastoma. On the contrast axial T1WI magnetic resonance imaging, the enhanced tumor existed in intramedullary and extramedullary regions (snowman sign).

Fig. 3. A case of extramedullary hemangioblastoma. On the contrast axial T1WI magnetic resonance imaging, smooth boundary lines were clearly seen between the tumor and spinal cord.