Cavernous Angioma / Cavernous Haemangioma
Definition and Presentation
A vascular malformation which in most patients is congenital,
but can also be acquired. Cavernous refers to the appearance of the
malformed vessels in this lesion. Cavernous angiomas are usually
very compact and well circumscribed lesions. Most of these lesions
present with a cerebral haemorrhage, which most often is small.
Sometimes they are the cause of focal epilepsy or neurological
deficits. Repeated small haemorrhages from cavernomas mimic the
symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
Diagnosis
MRI. Angiography may be necessary to rule out partially
thrombosed arteriovenous malformations.
Treatment
Cavernous angiomas are usually easy to resect with microsurgery.
Surgery is therefore the treatment of choice except for lesions in
eloquent areas. Gamma Knife surgery is the second option. It has
been reported that the complication rate for radiosurgery of these
lesions is higher than that for arteriovenous malformations. In
eloquent areas treatment is therefore limited to cavernomas which
have bled more than once.