Hemangioblastomas are a benign vascular tumor that can occur in the brain, spinal cord and retina. These are slow-forming tumors that arise from the linings of the blood vessels, but there is no known cause for these growths. Hemangioblastomas can affect anyone at any age, but they are more common in middle-aged adults. Dr. Sina Rajamand and our neurosurgical team at Battle Born Brain and Spine offer advanced treatment options for hemangioblastomas at our medical center in the Reno, NV area.

Hemangioblastomas are considered a rare form of tumor, accounting for an estimated 2% of brain tumors and 3% of spinal cord tumors. While the cause is not known, hemangioblastomas are more common in people with Hippel-Lindau (VHL) – up to 60% people with VHL will have a hemangioblastoma in connection with their disease. Hemangioblastomas can be curable in some instances – only about 25% come back after treatment.

Symptoms of Hemangioblastomas

Like most tumors, the symptoms of hemangioblastomas can depend on where they occur. Hemangioblastomas tend to become symptomatic later in development – adults with hemangioblastomas may begin experiencing symptoms around age 40. Symptoms of Hemangioblastomas can include:

• Headaches
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Loss of balance or coordination

Hemangioblastomas located in the spinal cord can cause numbness or weakness in the affected muscles, bladder control issues and constipation. Retinal hemangioblastomas can endanger vision, causing retinal detachment or fibrous tissue growth that can lead to vision loss.

Hemangioblastomas treatment includes surgical removal, which can completely remove the tumor and stop regrowth in some cases. Stereotactic radiosurgery is another treatment option when surgical removal is not recommended, which can be the case if the tumor is difficult to remove without damaging the brain or spinal cord. Many hemangioblastomas can be successfully treated with little risk of long-term complications or regrowth of the tumor.

Dr. Sina Rajamand is a highly-skilled and experienced neurosurgeon who specializes in minimally-invasive neurosurgery. If you have symptoms of a hemangioblastoma or have already been diagnosed with this condition, contact our team at Battle Born Brain and Spine. We offer advanced options in hemangioblastoma treatment at our medical center near Carson City and Reno, NV.