Hemangioblastoma
How is a hemangioblastoma diagnosed?
Diagnosis involves a combination of clinical assessment and imaging studies:
- MRI or CT scan are imaging techniques crucial for locating and characterizing the tumor within the brain or spinal cord.
- Genetic testing is used for patients with a family history or suspected von Hippel-Lindau disease, genetic testing can confirm the diagnosis.
- A biopsy may be performed to definitively diagnose the tumor type, although this is less common due to the tumor's location.
How is a hemangioblastoma treated?
Treatment for a hemangioblastoma typically includes:
- Surgical removal, the primary treatment method, especially if the tumor is accessible and symptoms are significant.
- Stereotactic radiosurgery, which targets smaller tumors or in patients where surgery is not feasible.
- Monitoring of small, asymptomatic tumors with regular MRI scans to detect growth or changes.
Due to the potential complexity of hemangioblastoma and its implications, treatment often involves a multidisciplinary team approach and long-term follow-up is crucial to monitor for recurrence or the development of additional tumors, particularly in patients with von Hippel-Lindau disease.
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