Open AccessCerebellar haemangioblastoma: temporising treatment in a high risk pregnancy
Author(s) -
Tausif Rehman,
Rushna Ali,
Howard Yonas
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
bmj case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.231
H-Index - 26
ISSN - 1757-790X
DOI - 10.1136/bcr.01.2009.1413
Subject(s) - medicine , ommaya reservoir , hydrocephalus , pregnancy , surgery , lesion , percutaneous , chemotherapy , genetics , biology
We describe the case of a young woman who was 29 weeks pregnant and presented with preterm labour along with hydrocephalus and brain stem symptoms from a large cytic lesion associated with a precariously sited haemangioblastoma. Cyst drainage was initially employed, with an Ommaya reservoir and periodic percutaneous drainage until the patient could undergo a full-term delivery. Following delivery, the tumour was embolised and resected surgically in the following week. The patient had no new deficits following surgery. We believe this temporising approach for symptomatic haemangioblastomas discovered in high risk pregnancies can lead to a better outcome for the mother and child.