MR imaging of posterior fossa hemangloblastomas

The MR findings of 18 surgically proven posterior fossa hemangioblastomas (15 patients) were retrospectively analyzed, and correlated with CT (ten patients) and angiography (eight patients). MR imaging was performed at 1.5 T (ten patients) or 0.35 T (five patients) using both T1- and T2-weighted spin-echo sequences. Twelve tumors were located in the cerebellar hemispheres, four in the vermis, and two in the medulla. Three patients had von Hippel-Lindau disease. Seven lesions were solid, six solid with small cysts, and five cystic with small mural nodule. Tumor vessels were demonstrated in 13 lesions. Associated hemorrhage was present in four patients. MR demonstration of a posterior fossa mass with abnormal vessels should suggest the diagnosis of hemangioblastoma