Hemangioblastomas with blood supply from the dural arteries--two case reports

[Clinical anatomy of the Bernasconi-Cassinari artery]

The article provides a comprehensive overview of the Bernasconi-Cassinari's artery (marginal tentorial branch of internal carotid artery, r. marginalis tentorii a. carotis internae). It includes information on the history of its discovery, anatomical features, and topography. The interrelation between the anatomical features of this artery and the presence of neurological pathology in patients is discussed, along with neurosurgical treatment methodologies.

Successful preoperative embolization of a cystic-solid variant of cerebellopontine angle hemangioblastoma

Tumors of the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) represent an heterogeneous group which can arise extradural, intradural-extraaxial or intraaxial compartment. Hemangioblastomas of the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) are extremely rare. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are often the gold-standard radiological imaging modalities used in characterizing the lesion's features, and its relationship with the surrounding structures. They are vascular lesions and may cause profuse bleeding intraoperatively, that is why angiography remains a crucial diagnostic and therapeutic tool, by reducing both the presurgical differential diagnosis, as well as the intraoperative bleeding by providing capability of embolization of this vascular tumor. We present the case of a 65 year old patient with a cystic-solid variety of HMB at the right CPA, which was successfully treated by a combination of an endovascular preoperative embolization and surgery without major complications or neurological deficits.

Hemangioblastomas of the Posterior Cranial Fossa in Adults: Demographics, Clinical, Morphologic, Pathologic, Surgical Features, and Outcomes. A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Posterior cranial fossa (PCF) hemangioblastomas are benign, highly vascularized, and well-differentiated tumors with well-described histopathologic features. Although relatively rare, this tumor is the most prevalent primary tumor of the cerebellum in adults.

OBJECTIVE

Because the demographics of patients with such a tumor (as well as the clinical, morphologic, pathologic, surgical features, and outcomes) are not fully understood, we systematized characteristic patient and tumor features.

METHODS

We undertook a systematic review of the English-language literature in PubMed for PCF hemangioblastomas in adults published in the past 31 years. We analyzed geographic distribution and year of publication of articles; demographic data of patients; presenting symptoms and clinical signs; tumor location and morphology; histopathologic features, extent of tumor resection, perioperative blood loss, and postoperative complications; length of hospital stay; and outcomes.

RESULTS

We reviewed 207 articles describing 1759 infratentorial hemangioblastomas in a cohort of 1515 adult patients. We found female predominance in patients with Von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHLD) compared with male predominance in the general patient group. Symptoms of intracranial hypertension were more common in the VHLD group compared with the general group of patients. The cerebellar location was more common in the VHLD group and solid (parenchymatous) tumor was the most common type. Most patients underwent total resection but rate of resection did not differ between the general and VHLD groups. Most patients had a favorable outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

The literature of adult PCF hemangioblastomas is limited and general surgical experience with such tumors is scarce because of their rarity. Rates of postoperative complications and mortality remain higher than expected. However, prognosis and surgical outcomes are generally favorable. Nevertheless, surgery of adult PCF hemangioblastomas is a demanding and challenging task.

Hypervascular Lesions of the Cerebellopontine Angle: The Relevance of Angiography as a Diagnostic and Therapeutic Tool and the Role of Stereotactic Radiosurgery in Management. A Comprehensive Review

BACKGROUND

The cerebellopontine angle (CPA) is a narrowed skull base area containing important cranial nerves and vessels and bordering with eloquent areas of the posterior fossa. Tumors of the CPA are a heterogeneous group and can have extradural, intradural/extra-axial, or intra-axial origins. Their vascular supply changes depending on their anatomic origin. Symptomatic, large CPA tumors require surgical resection in order to prevent irreversible, severe neurological damages. However, its tight and strategical location make surgery in the CPA very challenging and require appropriate pre-surgical planning. Pre-surgical diagnosis is of great importance as it allows us to choose the optimal management for the particular patient. This is of further significance when encountering high-risk lesions such as hypervascular tumors. Neurosurgeons should utilize every available pre-surgical diagnostic modalities as well as neo-adjuvant treatments in order to reduce such risks.

METHODS

We review all reported cases of hypervascular lesions of the CPA and discuss the roles of angiography and stereotactic radiosurgery in their management.

RESULTS

Three lesions of the CPA can be considered as truly hypervascular: hemangioblastomas, hemangiopericytomas and paragangliomas. All lesions share many radiological features. However, each lesion has a different anatomical origin and hence, has a characteristic vascular supply. Pre-surgical angiography can be utilized as a diagnostic tool to narrow down the differential diagnosis of a vascular CPA lesion, based on the predominant supplying vessel. In addition, pre-surgical embolization at time of angiography will narrow the associated surgical risks.

CONCLUSIONS

Angiography is a crucial diagnostic and therapeutic tool, helping both in narrowing the presurgical differential diagnosis and in controlling intraoperative bleeding. Because of the high surgical risks associated with resection of vascular tumors in the CPA, noninvasive treatments, such as stereotactic radiosurgery, also may have a crucial role.

Solid hemangioblastoma in the cerebellopontine angle: Importance of external carotid blood supply with regard to the probable site of origin and preoperative embolization

BACKGROUND

Hemangioblastoma (HBL) is rare in the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) with questionable origin and limited access for circumferential dissection and "en-bloc" excision. We report a case of surgical removal of large solid CPA-HBL and discuss the pattern of blood supply suggesting its origin and indicating preoperative embolization.

CASE DESCRIPTION

The solid and highly vascular CPA-HBL had feeders mainly from neuromeningeal division of ascending pharyngeal branch of external carotid artery, suggesting true extra-axial origin. We could achieve "en-bloc" excision without significant blood loss or morbidity using preoperative embolization.

CONCLUSION

Large solid HBL is rare in CPA necessitating arduous "en-bloc" excision. The pattern of blood supply probably indicates the site of origin and safety of preoperative embolization.

The medial tentorial artery of Bernasconi-Cassinari: a comprehensive review of its anatomy and neurosurgical importance

PURPOSE

The medial tentorial artery (MTA) of Bernasconi-Cassinari has been associated with many neurosurgical pathologies, including tentorial and petroclival meningiomas, dural arteriovenous fistulae, hemangioblastomas, moyamoya disease, arteriovenous malformations, trigeminal neuromas, and malignant gliomas. This vessel may function as a source of collateral blood supply for the posterior circulation. Our goal was to elucidate the MTA by compiling information about it in one concise article for clinicians and neurosurgeons who need to know about the anatomy and clinical significance of this artery.

METHODS

We reviewed the medical literature for information dealing with the anatomy, pathology, and surgery of the MTA and its clinical implications.

RESULTS

Based on the literature, the MTA commonly arises from the cavernous segment of the internal carotid artery and at times, may provide important collateral blood flow to the posterior circulation. This vessel is roughly 2 cm long and has a wavy appearance on angiography. It is usually a single trunk and often supplies the oculomotor, trochlear, and abducens nerves. The MTA may be seen on normal angiography and may be involved in the blood supply of petroclival and tentorial meningiomas.

CONCLUSIONS

A thorough knowledge of its anatomy and variations is important to clinicians interpreting imaging and neurosurgeons operating in this region. Detailed knowledge of this vessel may shed light on therapeutic options regarding its associated pathologies.

Preoperative imaging of cervical spine hemangioblastomas using three-dimensional fusion digital subtraction angiography

✓ Angiography is often performed to identify the vascular supply of hemangioblastomas prior to resection. Conventional two-dimensional (2D) digital subtraction (DS) angiography and three-dimensional (3D) DS angiography provides high-resolution images of the vascular structures associated with these lesions. However, such 3D DS angiography often does not provide reliable anatomical information about nearby osseous structures, or when it does, resolution of vascular anatomy in the immediate vicinity of bone is sacrificed. A novel angiographic reconstruction algorithm was recently developed at The Johns Hopkins University to overcome these inadequacies. By combining two separate sequences of images of bone and blood vessels in a single 3D representation, 3D fusion DS (FDS) angiography provides precise topographic information about vascular lesions in relation to the osseous environment, without a loss of resolution.

In this paper, the authors present the cases of two patients with cervical spine hemangioblastomas who underwent preoperative evaluation with FDS angiography and then successful gross-total resection of their tumors. In both cases, FDS angiography provided high-resolution 3D images of the hemangioblastoma anatomy, including each tumor’s topographic relationship with adjacent osseous structures and the location and size of feeding arteries and draining veins. These cases provide evidence that FDS angiography represents a useful adjunct to magnetic resonance imaging and 2D DS angiography in the preoperative evaluation and surgical planning of patients with vascular lesions in an osseous environment, such as hemangioblastomas in the spinal cord.

Preoperative embolization of upper cervical cord hemangioblastoma concomitant with venous congestion--case report

A 16-year-old male presented with a large, solid hemangioblastoma located in the upper cervical cord manifesting as hyperactive reflexes, subtle weakness, and diminished position sense in all extremities. Neuroimaging studies indicated venous congestion due to arteriovenous shunt through the tumor. Preoperative embolization was accomplished without morbidity, and resulted in marked devascularization of the tumor and elimination of an early filling vein. Four days after embolization, the tumor was totally excised without excessive intraoperative bleeding. His neurological deficits gradually improved after surgery. Preoperative embolization is a valuable adjunct to surgical excision of large intramedullary hemangioblastomas, especially those associated with arteriovenous shunt, as cord dysfunction related to venous congestion and the risk of torrential intraoperative bleeding are reduced.