What is a
Cavernoma?
A cavernous malformation or cavernoma is an abnormal
cluster of dilated blood vessels which have a tendency to bleed. The
cavernoma itself is a red to purple coloured mass or lesion which
occurs in the brain or spinal cord and contains blood at various stages
of evolution. Cerebral cavernomas usually occur in the cortex (white
matter) of the brain and only rarely in the brainstem. Cavernomas
are dynamic and can change in number and size over time. In size,
they can range from 0.1 to 9cm. Although they can grow, they are not cancers or tumours. A cavernoma is also known as a:
- Cavernous
Angioma
- Cavernous Hemangioma
It is estimated that 0.5% of the general
population are born with a brain or spinal cord lesion which will
eventually develop into a cavernoma. Cavernomas are sometimes hereditary,
being passed from a parent to a child. Although congenital, many patients
experience no symptoms. If symptoms are present, they are likely to
include:
- Headache
- Haemorrhage
- Fit or seizure
- Neurological deficit (brain
damage)
Cavernomas are usually diagnosed by Magnetic Resonance Imaging
(MRI) techniques. The appearance of a cavernoma on an MRI scan is
very characteristic. Following diagnosis, options for patients are:
- Observation
with regular follow-up MRI scans
- Surgery
Radiotherapy is not normally
recommended.
On the left, the upper image shows an MRI scan of a brainstem
cavernoma. Below, is a similar image taken four months after surgery
to remove the lesion.
