EPO and neoplasm: While 10–20% of von Hippel-Lindau associated cerebellar haemangioblastomas are associated with reactive polycythemia due to an erythropoietin (or an erythropoietin-like substance) released from the tumour [3, 7], this is the first reported case of extramedullary spinal haemangioblastoma associated with reactive polycythemia.