Efficacy of Intra-arterial Indocyanine Green Videoangiography in Hemangioblastoma Surgery: A Case Report

Intravenous indocyanine green (ICG) videoangiography is reportedly useful for vascular neurosurgery, and for treating hemangioblastoma due to its high vascularity. Videoangiography obtained after intra-arterial ICG injection has emerged as a more useful option than that after intravenous injection. This report offers the first description of a case of hemangioblastoma successfully treated using intra-arterial ICG videoangiography, and describes the efficacy of this technique. A 20-year-old man presented with progressive cerebellar ataxia and dysphagia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an enhanced solid tumor in the medulla oblongata. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) showed a highly vascularized tumor. Surgery was performed to remove the tumor in a hybrid operating room. A catheter was introduced into the vertebral artery (VA) for intra-arterial ICG videoangiography. Superficial feeders and drainers were identified and flow dynamic changes in the tumor were assessed by intra-arterial ICG videoangiography. The tumor was removed after confirming lack of flow in the drainer. Intra-arterial ICG videoangiography was more useful than intravenous ICG videoangiography in hemangioblastoma surgery for identifying feeders and drainers and assessing flow dynamics in the tumor. Use of Flow 800 made these findings simpler and easier to evaluate.