LINAC Radiosurgery for Hemangioblastoma

ABSTRACT

The author performed radiosurgery with linear accelerator(LINAC) on two patients who were unable to receive surgical treatment. A 75-year-old-male patient(case 1) whose main complaints were gait disturbance and headache had undergone total resection of cerebellar hemangioblastoma five years before the admission and the lesion recurred. Because the patient's general condition was poor, radiosurgery with LINAC was performed and at 1 month after the radiosurgery, obstructive hydrocephalus developed, and ventriculoperitoneal shunt was done. After 11 months, follow-up brain magnetic resonance image findings showed the decrease of the size of the tumor, and the patient's consciousness returned to alertness. He could also walk using a cane. A 28-year-old male paient(case 2) whose main complaints were vertigo, ataxia refused to receive surgical resection due to his religious beliefs, and radiosurgery was performed, after cyst aspiration with ommaya reservoir insertion as an alternative. Eighteen months later, the tumor size has decreased and there were no radiosurgical complications. The patient has been followed-up at the outpatient without any notable symptoms. Through these two cases, the authors experienced tumor control by LINAC radiosurgery when surgical treatment is not acceptable. Radiosurgery seems safe and effective in the treatment of hemangioblastoma, but there is the need for further evaluation.