Walsh & Hoyt: Hemangioblastomas

Hemangioblastomas of the central nervous system are benign vascular tumors that arise most commonly in the posterior fossa and spinal cord. They are frequently multiple, particularly in von Hippel-Lindau syndrome. These tumors comprise 12.5% of all intracranial growths; however, they represent 7% of adult posterior fossa tumors. Hemangioblastomas are thus nearly as common as meningiomas in this region. Most patients with hemangioblastomas are diagnosed between the 3rd and 5th decades of life. Males are more frequently affected than are females.