A Case of Cerebellar Hemangioblastoma with Marked Peri-focal Edema mimicking a Metastatic Brain Tumor

Abstract

We report a case of cerebellar hemangioblastoma with a marked peri-tumoral edema. A 70-year-old male was admitted to our hospital with a one-month history of truncal ataxia and right cerebellar signs. His CT scan demonstrated an intra-axial solid mass with an extensive peri-focal edema in the right cerebellar hemisphere. Vertebral angiograms showed a tumor stain lasting through the late venous phase as well as dilated feeding arteries and draining veins. The tumor was totally resected and histological evaluation confirmed it to be hemangioblastoma. The patient was discharged without neurological deficit. This rare case suggests that a solid cerebellar hemangioblastoma with a peri-focal edema may mimic a malignant cerebellar tumor. Possible mechanisms behind the development of the extensive edema are also discussed.