How I do it: cervical hemangioblastoma resection. Surgical technique and complication avoidance

Spinal cord hemangioblastomas are benign, highly vascular neoplasms that affect the brain and, rarely, the spinal cord. They can be solitary or as part of von Hippel-Lindau syndrome. Radiosurgery is not a suitable treatment option. Endovascular embolization can only be adjunct to surgery.

We present a detailed approach to resection of a spinal cord hemangioblastoma. A video demonstrates the microsurgical technique and discusses complication avoidance.

The pitfalls to consider are preservation of normal spinal cord vessels, protection of the pia-arachnoid cleavage plane, and avoidance of tumor piecemeal removal. Careful microsurgical resection and detailed preoperative planning are key.