Isolated paramedullary hemangioblastoma originating from the first cervical nerve root: case report.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective case of an isolated paramedullary hemangioblastoma originating from the first cervical root is reported.

OBJECTIVE: To describe an uncommon type of spinal hemangioblastoma and its operative treatment.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Spinal hemangioblastoma, rare finding accounting for approximately 1.5% to 2.5% of all spinal cord tumors, may have an intramedullary, extramedullary, or extradural location. Cervical hemangioblastomas occur in approximately 45% of the cases and are intramedullary in about 83% of the cases.

METHODS: A 59-year-old man presented with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage in the basal cisterns. Four-vessel angiography showed a highly vascular small tumor at the dorsolateral side of the cervicomedullary junction fed by a branch of the vertebral artery. The lesion was surgically removed.

RESULTS: Total removal of the lesion was achieved after identification of both the arterial feeder and the draining vein with the aid of microvascular Doppler sonography. There were no complications, and the patient did well after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS: Although hemangioblastomas occurring in the cervicomedullary area usually may cause progressive neural compression, occasionally they also can present clinically as acute subarachnoid hemorrhage. This situation requires urgent and adequate treatment as in the reported case.