A rapid clinical deterioration of a cervical exophytic intradural intramedullary sporadic hemangioblastoma diagnosed during pregnancy

Neurosurg Focus Video. 2023 Oct 1;9(2):V11. doi: 10.3171/2023.7.FOCVID2354. eCollection 2023 Oct.

Abstract

Hemangioblastomas are benign CNS tumors that can occur sporadically or in conjunction with von Hippel-Lindau disease. While 2% of spinal cord tumors are hemangioblastomas, combined cervical hemangioblastomas and pregnancy is rare. Some reports suggest that hemodynamic and hormonal changes in pregnancy might increase hemangioblastoma growth and aggravate symptoms. Urgent tumor removal is required when neurological problems deteriorate after failed symptomatic treatment. Neurosurgeons should collaborate with anesthesiologists and obstetricians in such cases. Herein, the authors present the first known video case of a sporadic cervical hemangioblastoma diagnosed during pregnancy that required urgent surgery due to failed symptomatic treatment and progressive clinical deterioration.

Keywords: hemangioblastoma; intradural; intramedullary; pregnancy; spinal; trimester; tumor.