Hemangioblastoma of the Central Nervous System: A Case Series of Patients Surgically Treated at Shohada-e-Tajrish Hospital, Tehran, Iran during 2004-2014

OBJECTIVES: Hemangioblastoma refers to a benign vascular neoplasm that comprises stromal and capillary cells. Based on the classification of nervous system tumors proposed by WHO, hemangioblastomas are classified as Grade I meningeal tumors of uncertain origin. These tumors are found almost exclusively in the central nervous system (CNS) and account for 0.9% to 2.1% of all primary CNS tumors. MATERIALS & METHODS: In this descriptive retrospective study, the archives of pathology reports were reviewed in the Department of Pathology of Shohada-e-Tajrish Hospital, Tehran, Iran and patients with definite diagnosis of hemangioblastoma made through histopathological examinations during 2004-2014 were identified. Age, gender and the location of tumor were extracted from the medical records and entered into SPSS statistical software v.22 for analysis. RESULTS: Thirty patients including 16 males (53.3%) and 14 females (46.7%) were identified. The mean age of the patients was calculated to be 41.2±13.47 yr, ranging from 19 to 62 yr old. The majority of lesions had been found in the cerebellum of the patients (93.3%); only one had occurred in the cerebrum (3.3%) and another in the fourth ventricle (3.3%). CONCLUSION: Cerebellum is the most commonly affected location in patients with CNS hemangioblastomas, and a male preponderance is observed in these cases.