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Hemangioblastoma

Case contributed by Kosuke Kato
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Headache.

Patient Data

Age: 55 years
Gender: Male

MRI Brain

mri

There is a lesion of heterogenous signal intensity arising from the cerebellar vermis extending more to the left side. It is predominantly solid with rim-enhancing cystic component at its inferior aspect. Multiple flow voids at the posterior margin of the lesion suggestive of vascular origin. Severe posterior mass effect at the cerebral aqueduct and fourth ventricle with associated hydrocephalus and transtentorial edema. There is flattening of the pons and extension of the cerebellar tonsils into the foramen magnum. There is no thickening of enhancement of the dura or diffusion restriction.

Conclusion: demographics and appearance of the mass, particularly the prominent flow-voids, suggests a hemangioblastoma as the most likely diagnosis. 

Case Discussion

The patient underwent posterior fossa craniotomy with excision of the lesion.

Histology

MICROSCOPIC DESCRIPTION Sections of the cerebellum show a moderately cellular tumor with scattered stromal cells in a background of many blood vessels of varying sizes. The tumor cells form aggregates. They have enlarged nuclei with hyperchromasia and foamy vacuolated cytoplasm. Mitoses are inconspicuous. There is no necrosis. The tumor cells are focally inhibin positive. CAM5.2 is negative.

FINAL DIAGNOSIS: hemangioblastoma (WHO Grade I)

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