von Hippel-Lindau Disease (VHL) Support Group

Von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL) is a rare inherited genetic condition involving the abnormal growth of tumors in parts of the body which are particularly rich in blood supply.

Features of VHL are:

angiomatosis - little knots of capillaries in various organs. These tend to be cavernous hemangiomas, which are sharply defined, sponge-like tumors composed of large, dilated, cavernous vascular spaces.

hemangioblastomas - tumors of the central nervous system (CNS, especially the cerebellum). These tumors, whether benign (usual) or malignant (rarer), may cause problems, for example angiomas in the brain or spinal cord may press on nerve or brain tissue. As an angioma grows, the walls of the blood vessels may weaken and leak, causing damage to surrounding tissues. Blood leakage from angiomas in the retina can interfere with vision. Cysts may also grow around angiomas.

pheochromocytoma - tumors of the adrenal medulla that often produce catecholamines

renal cell carcinoma - in some forms

Untreated, VHL may result in blindness and permanent brain damage, death is usually caused by complications of malignant tumors in the brain or kidney.

Other names are: angiomatosis retinae, angiophakomatosis retinae et cerebelli, familial cerebello-retinal angiomatosis, cerebelloretinal hemangioblastomatosis, Hippel Disease, Hippel-Lindau syndrome, HLS, Lindau disease or retinocerebellar angiomatosis.