title: Solid hemangioblastoma in the cerebellopontine angle: Importance of external carotid blood supply with regard to the probable site of origin and preoperative embolization.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors: Rajesh Kumar
authors: RK
authors: Meena
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors: Sivashanmugam
authors: S
authors: Dhandapani
authors: Department of Radiology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors: Vivek
authors: V
authors: Gupta
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors: Srinivasan
authors: S
authors: Anirudh
authors: Department of Pathology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors: Debajyoti
authors: D
authors: Chatterjee
keywords: Ascending pharyngeal artery; cerebellopontine angle; external carotid artery; hemangioblastoma