Haemangioblastomas of the central nervous system

Experiences with 47 haemangioblastomas of the central nervous system seen in our department over a period of 33 years are described. Among these cases there were six tumours of the brain stem and four of the cerebrum. It is pointed out that, after a diagnosis of brain stem tumour has been made, a shunt procedure is indicated if high intracranial pressure is present. Radiation does not seem to help this kind of patient. Polycythaemia was observed in both types of tumours. One case of spinal cord tumour was seen during the same period, and in another case multiple tumours of the brain stem and the spinal cord were observed.