title: Intraoperative fluorescence for resection of hemangioblastomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Resection of hemangioblastomas can be challenging due to their high vascularity and intimate association with neighboring cerebrovascular structures. The authors present their intraoperative findings using fluorescein angiography and fluorescence for removal of hemangioblastomas in an attempt to improve the safety and extent of resection.
  
  
  METHODS
  From April through August 2012, four patients were diagnosed with hemangioblastomas, 3 in the cerebellum and 1 in the medulla oblongata. Low-dose (4 mg/kg) sodium fluorescein was injected intravenously immediately before microdissection. The area of interest was inspected through a microscope-integrated fluorescent module.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In three superficially located tumors, the vascular pattern of feeding and draining vessels could be easily identified with fluorescein angiography. The resection of the tumors was guided using real-time fluorescence mode. For each patient, histopathologic examination of the lesion confirmed the diagnosis of hemangioblastoma. All samples of fluorescent tissue resected were confirmed to contain tumor. No patient experienced any complication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low-dose sodium fluorescein used in conjunction with a microscope-integrated fluorescence module is a potentially useful tool for localization, vascular characterization, and resection of hemangioblastomas.
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA. rrey-dios@umc.edu
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Rey-Dios
authors: Aaron A
authors: AA
authors: Cohen-Gadol
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005453:Fluorescence; D018325:Hemangioblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome