To investigate the safety and efficacy of preoperative embolization for non-capsular nodular hemangioblastoma (HB) in the posterior fossa.

Retrospective analysis of 12 cases of posterior cranial fossa non-cystic nodular HB patients admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from January 2014 to June 2018. All patients underwent preoperative embolization and microsurgical resection after embolization. The occurrence of complications after embolization and post-operative complications were observed and the therapeutic effect was evaluated by KPS score.

The posterior cranial fossa non-cystic nodular HB multi-vessels were involved in blood supply. The patients in this group were completely embolized in 5 cases, most of them were embolized in 5 cases, and some embolization in 2 cases. After embolization, 11 cases underwent microsurgery and 1 case underwent total tumor resection. The average operation time was 5.3 h; the intraoperative blood loss was 200-1500 mL, and the average bleeding was 680 mL. One patient had postoperative cranial nerve palsy and aspiration pneumonia; one patient developed intracranial infection. Postoperative KPS scores were ≥90 points, the patient can perform normal activities.

Preoperative embolization is a safe and effective adjuvant treatment for non-capsular nodular HB in the posterior fossa. It can effectively reduce intraoperative bleeding, shorten the operation time, reduce the complications of surgery and improve the postoperative quality of life.