title: Clinical features and surgical outcomes of sporadic cerebellar hemangioblastomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sporadic hemangioblastomas show a strong preference for the cerebellum. We clarify the clinical characteristics and role of surgery in sporadic cerebellar hemangioblastomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  This 11-year retrospective study enrolled 20 patients (10 men and 10 women; 41.6±9.8 years) with sporadic cerebellar hemangioblastomas. All patients had a solitary tumor and underwent surgical resection of the lesion through a suboccipital midline approach. The basic features, serial radiographic examinations, and operative records were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean follow-up was 39.2±37.4 months (range, 2-134 months). The most common presenting symptoms were headache, vertigo, ataxia, and nausea or vomiting. There were 6 (30.0%) completely solid, 1 (5.0%) combined solid and cystic, and 13 (65.0%) primarily cystic tumors. The average size of the tumor was 40.7±8.7mm in its maximal diameter (range, 25-58mm). Eighteen (90.0%) patients underwent gross total resection and 2 (10.0%) underwent partial resection. After the primary surgery, 16 (80.0%) patients experienced improvement in their symptoms, 4 (20.0%) maintained their pretreatment status, and none showed neurological deterioration following tumor resection. Recurrence and progression were identified in 4 of 20 tumors. Three of the 4 tumors became symptomatic and the patients underwent secondary surgery with total removal of the tumor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sporadic cerebellar hemangioblastomas are usually associated with cysts and are voluminous by the time of diagnosis. Because these tumors result in the mass effect of posterior fossa, surgical removal is preferable and safe, and can be a timely curative strategy to prevent neurological decline.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chen-Chieh
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Electronic address: newlupin2001@yahoo.com.tw.
authors.forename: Yu-Hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018325:Hemangioblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000601:surgery; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Cerebellum; Hemangioblastoma; Outcome; Recurrence; Surgery