Read article Treatment for haemangioblastoma
This page is about haemangioblastoma brain tumours. There is information about
Treatment for haemangioblastoma
Haemangioblastomas develop from blood vessel cells. They often grow very slowly and are usually limited to one area of the brain. But they can cause sudden symptoms by blocking the circulation of fluid around the brain and making fluid build up (hydrocephalus).
Surgery for haemangioblastoma
Surgery is the usual treatment and it is normally possible to remove haemangioblastomas completely, even if there is more than one tumour.
Radiotherapy for haemangioblastoma
It is rare for haemangioblastomas to spread into surrounding brain tissue. But if they do spread they are not so easy to remove. Sometimes they grow in an area that is difficult to operate on, such as the brain stem. It may not be possible to remove these tumours completely. You may have radiotherapy to treat haemangioblastomas that cannot be removed with surgery or can only be partly removed. Or if you cannot have surgery due to other medical conditions.
If haemangioblastoma comes back
You may be able to have surgery again if haemangioblastoma comes back. Or you may have stereotactic radiotherapy (targeted radiotherapy).
You can view and print the quick guides for all the pages in the treating brain tumours section.
Haemangioblastomas develop from blood vessel cells and often grow very slowly. But they can cause sudden symptoms as they can block the circulation of fluid around the brain and make fluid build up (hydrocephalus). Haemangioblastomas are usually reasonably contained in one area and do not tend to spread into surrounding brain tissue. So it is nearly always possible to remove them with surgery. In fact it is usually possible to remove them completely. These contained tumours are sometimes called cystic haemangioblastomas.
Sometimes there may be more than one haemangioblastoma in the brain or spinal cord. It may be possible for your surgeon to remove multiple tumours successfully.
Occasionally haemangioblastomas are not cystic and so are not so easy to remove. Sometimes they grow in an area that is difficult to operate on, such as the brain stem. So it may not be possible to remove these completely. You may have radiotherapy to treat haemangioblastomas that
- Can only be partly removed with surgery
- Cannot be removed at all
- Have come back after treatment
You may also have radiotherapy if you are not fit enough to have brain surgery, for example, if you have serious lung or heart problems.
You may have stereotactic radiotherapy as the main treatment for this type of brain tumour. Whether this is suitable for you will depend on the size and position of the tumour. This type of treatment is most likely to be suitable for small tumours. You may have stereotactic radiotherapy for haemangioblastoma that has come back after it was first treated.
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