Intramedullary cervical spinal cord and cerebellar hemangioblastoma: A case report

BACKGROUND: Hemangioblastomas are benign tumors that develop in the central nervous system. They represent 1.5–2.5% of all intracranial tumors, and about 2–15% of all spinal cord tumors. They are highly associated with von Hippel–Lindau disease. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 36-year-old female presented with a 4-year history of progressive right upper extremity distal weakness and cervical pain. The magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a homogeneously, contrast enhancing intradural/intramedullary tumor at C6–C7 with perilesional edema and a syrinx accompanied by a cerebellar cyst with a mural nodule. Surgery included excision of the spinal lesion and decompression and excision of the cerebellar cyst and mural nodule (i.e., median suboccipital craniectomy and cervical C5–C7 laminectomy). CONCLUSION: Surgery is the gold standard treatment for symptomatic hemangioblastomas, and surgical approaches should minimize risk.