Posterior fossa brain tumors and arterial hypertension

Hypertension caused by arterial compression of the rostral ventrolateral medulla is well described. Much less information is available on the association between neurogenic hypertension and posterior fossa brain tumors. To date, multiple reports have supported the impression that a small subpopulation of patients with posterior fossa tumors can present with arterial hypertension, and many of those patients achieved significant improvement of their hypertension after tumor resection and medullary decompression. To review the relationship between posterior fossa brain tumors and hypertension, we detail the history, basic science, and clinical reports along with an illustrative case regarding this topic.