Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Hemangioblastomas

Hemangioblastomas are rare, benign vascular tumors that primarily occur in the posterior fossa and spinal cord. While the majority of cases occur sporadically, 20% of hemangioblastomas are associated with von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL). Although neurosurgical resection is the standard treatment, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is an alternative option with excellent local control for patients who are not operable or do not desire surgical resection. We review the efficacy and toxicity of SRS for hemangioblastomas in the brain and spinal cord.