Relationship between Spinal Hemangioblastoma Location and Age.
METHODS
Retrospective case series.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between tumor location and clinical characteristics.


BACKGROUND
Hemangioblastoma is a rare disease that develops in the central nervous system. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is useful to evaluate hemangioblastomas. Hemangioblastoma's location is designated as intramedullary, intramedullary+extramedullary, or extramedullary by MRI.


METHODS
We analyzed 11 patients who underwent surgery for spinal hemangioblastoma. Using T1 contrast axial MRI data, the cases were divided into three groups (intramedullary, intramedullary+extramedullary, and extramedullary). Patient demographics, MRI findings, and preoperative neurological status were analyzed and compared for each group.


RESULTS
The average age of patients with intramedullary, intramedullary+extramedullary, and extramedullary hemangioblastoma was 34.0, 64.4, and 67.5 years, respectively. Patients in the intramedullary hemangioblastoma group were younger than the other groups. Extramedullary cases had a smaller syrinx compared to the other groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Age may play an important role in the hemangioblastoma tumor location and the subsequent diagnosis by an MRI.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan.
Tatsuya
T
Yasuda
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan.
Tomohiko
T
Hasegawa
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan.
Yu
Y
Yamato
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan.
Sho
S
Kobayashi
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan.
Daisuke
D
Togawa
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan.
Tomohiro
T
Banno
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan.
Hideyuki
H
Arima
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan.
Shin
S
Oe
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan.
Yukihiro
Y
Matsuyama
Age; Magnetic resonance imaging; Spinal hemangioblastoma; Tumor location