Haemangioblastoma
What is a Haemangioblastoma?
What are the common symptoms of a haemangioblastoma?
What is the treatment for haemangioblastoma in the UK?
In the UK, what is the prognosis for someone diagnosed with haemangioblastoma?
Frequently Asked Questions
Can haemangioblastoma be cured?
Haemangioblastomas can often be successfully treated, but the likelihood of a cure depends on several factors, such as the size and location of the tumour and the overall health of the patient.
In many cases, surgical removal of the tumour can be curative, especially if the tumour is small. However, if the tumour is located in a vital area of the brain or spinal cord, surgery may not be feasible or may carry a high risk of complications. In these cases, radiation therapy or other treatments may be used to slow the growth of the tumour and alleviate symptoms.
It's important to note that even after successful treatment, close monitoring may be necessary to watch for any signs of recurrence. Additionally, in cases where haemangioblastomas are associated with a genetic condition such as von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease, ongoing surveillance may be necessary to detect and treat any new tumours that may develop over time.
How rare are haemangioblastomas?
Haemangioblastoma is a rare type of tumourhaemangioblastomas occur in about 2 to 3 people per million per year. They are more common in adults than in children and are slightly more common in men than in women.
Haemangioblastomas can occur sporadically or as part of a genetic condition called von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease. VHL disease is a rare genetic disorder that affects about 1 in 36,000 people worldwide, and it is estimated that about 25-30% of people with VHL disease will develop a haemangioblastoma in their lifetime.
Overall, haemangioblastomas are considered to be a rare type of tumour, but they can still have a significant impact on the health and quality of life of those who are affected.
What age do people get haemangioblastoma?
Haemangioblastomas can occur at any age, but they are more commonly diagnosed in adults between the ages of 30 and 50.
In cases where haemangioblastomas are associated with a genetic condition such as von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease, the age of onset may be younger. VHL disease is an inherited condition that can increase the risk of developing haemangioblastomas as well as other types of tumours, and people with VHL disease may develop haemangioblastomas at a younger age.
What is the risk of having a bleed on the brain?
For small <1.5cm tumours the risk is practically zero. For tumours larger than this then the risk remains small <0.1% over lifetime but increases with the size.
How will having a haemangioblastoma affect my license to drive?
Most haemangioblastomas are located in the cerebellar area and hence do not increase the risk of having a seizure or epileptic fit. However, some tumours may affect your physical driving ability. Those with a diagnosis should notify the DVLA. Patients with asymptomatic tumours are able to return to driving directly. Those undergoing surgery or radiotherapy can usually return to driving on completion of treatment or recovery form surgery.