Sporadic hemangioblastoma of the film terminale with peritumoral cyst

BACKGROUND: Spinal hemangioblastoma originating from the film terminale are rare tumors. Here, we present a film terminale hemangioblastoma and review the appropriate literature. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 37-year-old female presented with bilateral lower extremity pain without a focal neurological deficit. The magnetic resonance (MR) image demonstrated an intradural spinal tumor at the L1 level, which was accompanied by peritumoral cysts. In addition, there were multiple surpentine flow voids (e.g., consistent with torturous and convoluted vessels), which is typical for hemangioblastoma. At surgery, a spinal hemangioblastoma originating from the film terminale with peritumoral cysts at the L1 level was fully excised without producing a focal postoperative neurological deficit. Histological examination revealed stromal cells with vacuolated cytoplasm and small nuclei in a rich capillary network accompanied by several enlarged vessels. These finding were compatible with a hemangioblastoma. CONCLUSIONS: We reported a rare case of a hemangioblastoma originating from the conus presenting at the L1 level. Complete surgical resection was accomplished without any motor deficit.