Introduction: Intradural spinal hemangioblastoma are typically benign tumours of vascular origin arising either in association with von Hippel-Lindau disease or sporadically. Approximately 1000 cases have been described with varying epidemiological factors and outcomes. This study’s objective was to evaluate epidemiological factors related to spinal hemangioblastoma with the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results (SEER) database.
Methods: The SEER database was examined for spinal hemangioblastomas between 2000-2010. Incidence was evaluated for age, gender, and race. Outcome was evaluated in the form of survival using Cox proportionate hazards ratios, isolating age, gender, location, treatment modality, pathology, and number of primaries (p=0.05).
Results: Between 2000-2010, there were 133 cases of spinal hemangioblastoma with an age-adjusted incidence of 0.014 (0.012-0.017) per 100 000, and was the tenth most common intradural spinal tumor type, 2.1% (133/6156) of spinal tumours. There was no difference in incidence between males and females. The average age of patients was 48.0 (45.2 – 50.9), and a lower incidence was noted in patients younger than 15 compared to all other age groups (p<0.05). There was no difference in incidence amongst the different races. Treatment included surgical resection in 106 (79.7%) cases, radiation with surgery in 7 (5.3%) cases, and radiation alone was used in only 1 (0.8%) case, and no treatment was performed in 17 (12.8%) cases. Mortality was noted in 12 (9%) cases, and median survival of 27.5 months (range 1 – 66 months) over the 10-year period. There was no statistically significant different in Cox hazard ratios for mortality for sex, race, treatment modality, pathology, or number of primaries.
Conclusions: Spinal hemangioblastoma account for a small fraction of primary intradural spinal tumors, with no difference in incidence between genders. Overall prognosis is good, with 9% observed mortality over the 10-year period, with 2% mortality attributable to the malignancy.
Patient Care: This study defines epidemiological factors related to treatment and outcomes of spinal hemangioblastoma. With knowledge of these factors, and outcomes with treatment modalities available, clinicians can tailor appropriate management for patients with spinal hemangioblastomas.
Learning Objectives: By the conclusion of this session, participants should be able to:
1) Describe incidence of intradural spinal hemangioblastoma
2) Describe outcomes of intradural spinal hemangioblastoma
3) Describe treatment modalities of intradural spinal hemangioblastoma