Surgical management of hemangioblastoma of the spinal cord: a report of 18 cases.

The cases of 18 patients operated on for hemangioblastoma of the spinal cord were reviewed. There were 11 men and 7 women. (M:F = 1.6:1) and in 15 patients, the onset of spinal symptoms was before the age of 40 years. There were 19 intradural and 2 extradural tumors. The tumor was accompanied by a cyst in 9 patients (50%). There were 6 cases of Lindau's disease, including 3 cases of multiple spinal tumors. Symptoms improved postoperatively in 13 patients. were unchanged in 2, and were aggravated in 3. At the present time, magnetic resonance imaging with gadolinium-diethylene-triamine-pentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA) enhancement is the most useful tool for precise localization of the tumor and differentiation of any accompanying cyst.