Capillary hemangioblastoma presenting as cerebellopontine angle tumor: A case report

• Main Authors: Mendenilla, R. M., Espiritu, Gerard Anthony M.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2020
• Subjects: Brain—Tumors; Blood-vessels—Tumors; Oncology; Public Health
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/11309
• Institution: De La Salle University

Background & objectives: In the Philippines, primary adult brain tu­mours are predominantly meningiomas and glial tumours. Metastatic tumours (3.2%) and hemangioblastomas (2.2%) comprise the minority of adult brain tumours. There is no reported incidence of brain tumours in the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) in the Philippines but one local study showed incidence of l 0. 7% in the cerebellum or brain stem. Given the predominance of slow-growing tumours in the Philippines, surgery alone is commonly favoured. In this study, capillary hemangioblastoma occurring in the CPA is presented. Methods: A 41-year-old, Filipino female presented with diffuse headache gradually progressing for l month. MRI showed an en­hancing mass lesion measuring 3.8 x 3.0 x 2.6 cm located at the left CPA with significant oedema and mass effect with compression of the left ventricle. She underwent suboccipital craniectomy. Intraoperative findings showed a very vascular tumour, which pro­fusely bled upon biopsy. Results: Submitted were multiple light brown to dark brown soft to friable tissue fragments aggregately measuring 0.4 x 0.3 x 0.2 cm This was composed of spindle cells forming anastomosing vascular channels with slightly foamy stromal cells with plump, hyperchromatic nuclei. Immunohistochemical studies showed reactivity for Vimentin and Inhibin and negative staining for S-100. The irnmunohistophenotypic profile supported the diagnosis of hemangioblastoma. Conclusion: Vascular brain tumours may pose a problem in surgical therapy alone because profuse bleeding may hinder the procedure.