Utility of indocyanine green in the detection of radiologically silent hemangioblastomas: case report

Hemangioblastomas (HBs) are rare, benign, hypervascularized tumors. Fluorescent imaging with indocyanine green (ICG) can visualize tumor angioarchitecture. The authors report a case of multiple HBs involving two radiologically silent lesions only detected intraoperatively by ICG fluorescence. A 26-year-old woman presented with a cystic cerebellar mass on the tentorial surface of the left cerebellar hemisphere on MRI. A left paramedian suboccipital approach was performed to remove the mural nodule with the aid of ICG injection. The first injection, applied just prior to removing the nodule, highlighted the tumor and vessels. After resection, two new lesions, invisible on the preoperative MRI, surprisingly enhanced on fluorescent imaging 35 minutes after the ICG bolus. Both silent lesions were removed. Histological analysis of all three lesions revealed they were positive for HB. The main goal of this report is to hypothesize possible explanations about the mechanism that led to the behavior of the two silent lesions. Intraoperative ICG videoangiography was useful to understand the 3D angioarchitecture and HB flow patterns to perform a safe and complete resection in this case. Understanding the HB ultrastructure and pathophysiological mechanisms, in conjunction with the properties of ICG, may expand potential applications for their diagnosis and future treatments.