Normalization of systemic arterial hypertension following removal of posterior fossa hemangioblastoma: a case report

The concept of compression of the rostral ventrolateral medulla as a cause for hypertension is gaining more and more interest. This report is about a 36-year-old male with a three years history of hypertension who presented with a posterior fossa mass suggestive of a hemangioblastoma. Laboratory and imaging studies ruled out the presence of von Hippel-Lindau disease and/or concomitant pheochromocytoma. Post-surgical blood pressure monitoring revealed a 40 mmHg decline in blood pressure. It could be hypothesized that alleviation the compressive effect of the tumour on the rostral ventrolateral medulla as proposed by previous studies could be a contributing factor.