Abstract
Massive hemorrhage is a very uncommon event among hemangioblastomas. Forty-four cases have been reported before this review. Thorough analysis of all reported cases on literature was accomplished. The majority presented as parenchymatous or subarachnoid bleedings. Subarachnoid hemorrhage was only associated with spinal hemangioblastomas, while parenchymatous bleedings were more, but not only, originated from cranial instances. Ventricular hemorrhage from a hemangioblastoma was exceptional, with only two previous cases bleeding directly into the ventricular compartment. To our knowledge, the illustrative case is the first one of pure tetraventricular hemorrhage from a hemangioblastoma. When hemangioblastoma bleeding occurs, it is usually the very first clinical presentation of a previously undetected tumor. Solid type, large size, and spinal–radicular locations are more frequently related to hemorrhage. Hemorrhage following hemangioblastoma embolization and the association of this tumor with other bleeding lesions, such as arteriovenous malformations and aneurysms, is also discussed.
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Manolo Piccirilli, Rome, Italy
The authors report a very interesting case of massive hemorrhage in a 33-year-old male with histologically proven diagnosis of hemangioblastomas. A well-done literature review has been performed. This paper focuses the light on a very important neurosurgical issue, represented by spontaneous cerebral hemorrhages, and one of its possible etiologies, both intracranial and spinal.
Kazuhiro Hongo, Matsumoto, Japan
This is a paper reporting on the massive hemorrhage in hemangioblastoma with literature review. The authors are to be congratulated on their extensive and excellent literature review focusing on massive hemorrhage in hemangioblastoma.
As the hemangioblastoma is known to be a highly vascular tumor, for conducting resection, preoperative detailed evaluation of the feeding artery is essential, and at surgery careful maneuver is mandatory to manage the feeding artery at the early stage of surgery and to remove the lesion without entering the lesion itself.
As for the preoperative management, the authors give useful information: (1) subarachnoid hemorrhage was only associated with spinal hemangioblastomas, while parenchymatous bleedings were more, but not only, originated from cranial instances. (2) ventricular hemorrhage from a hemangioblastoma was exceptional, with only two previous cases bleeding directly into the ventricular compartment.
Massive hemorrhage occurs rarely; however, we need to take care when managing a patient with a hemangioblastoma especially for a hypervascular one.
Takahito Miyazawa, Saitama, Japan
Cases of hemangioblastomas with bleeding are sometimes encountered. However, most neurosurgeons do not have time to think deeply about the scientific meaning of hemorrhage in hemangioblastomas. Authors discuss the issue of why, despite that there are pathological similarities between hemangioblastomas and AVMs, hemorrhage occurs less frequently in the former. Authors also discuss complications such as infarction, tumor swelling, and massive hemorrhage during or after preoperative embolization for hemangioblastomas. These issues are quite interesting and important for neurosurgeons. Since hemangioblastomas are not so frequent, the natural bleeding rate for them is not known. When neurosurgeons encounter a case of a hemangioblastoma without hemorrhage, they should know, as mentioned in the author’s conclusion, that a large size, a spinal–radicular location, and a solid type are factors associated with a higher bleeding rate.
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Ros de San Pedro, J., Alarcón Rodríguez, F., Ferri Ñíguez, B. et al. Massive hemorrhage in hemangioblastomas. Neurosurg Rev 33, 11–26 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10143-009-0217-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10143-009-0217-1