Cerebral Cavernous Haemangiomas or Cavernomas

Abstract

Reviewing the literature and adding one unusual case the features of 164 cerebral cavernous haemangiomas are described with special reference to incidence, localization, diagnosis and clinical findings. Cavernomas may be found in every age group including the neonatal period. The sex incidence is equal. In 126 cases (76.8%) the cavernomas were of supratentorial, in 34 cases (20.7%) of infratentorial site, and in 4 more cases (2.5%) there was multiple occurence of supratentorial and posterior fossa cavernous haemangiomas. A specific clinical syndrome could not be defined: but the course is usually acute or subacute, and initial symptoms are commonly epileptic fits, acute headache and subarachnoid or intracerebral haemorrhage. Macroscopic calcifications of cerebral cavernomas were found only in 18 cases (11%). Cerebral angiography was done in 31 cases (18.9%). In 9 cases angiography was totally normal, and in 11 cases the cavernoma presented only as an avascular mass. In the remaining cases there was no conformity in the angiographic appearance of cerebral cavernous haemangiomas. Operative extirpation is the treatment of choice if a solitary lesion is favourably located. In addition to our patient there are now 21 cases (12.8%) in which cavernomas were treated successfully by operative extirpation.

Refined localization of the cerebral cavernous malformation gene (CCM1) to a 4-cM interval of chromosome 7q contained in a well-defined YAC contig.

“…Of patients who are MR imaging positive, 15%-20% can remain asymptomatic throughout their lives (Curling et al 1991;Robinson et al 1991). Others experience a number of serious neurological problems resulting from intracranial hemorrhage and mass effects, with focal and generalized epileptic seizures being the most common presenting symptom (40%-70%), followed by focal neurological deficits (35%-50%) and nonspecific headache pain (10%-30%) (Voight and Yasargil 1976;Simard et al 1986;Rigamonti et al 1988;Villani et al 1989;Curling et al 1991;Robinson et al 1991;Zabramski et al 1994). CCM can also lead to death as a result of cerebrovascular accident (Hayman et al 1982;Gil-Nagel et al 1995).…”

Cavernoma gigante: relato de dois casos

“…27 . Devido a algumas de suas características como tamanho, lesões múltiplas e localização podem, apesar de serem lesões benignas, apresentar risco elevado de morbidade 18 . Podem variar de alguns milí-metros a vários centímetros de diâmetro.…”

“…Podem também apresentar-se associados a neoplasias gliais 17 . Não há predomínio por sexo 18 . Compreendem cerca de 5 a 13% das lesões vasculares do sistema nervoso central 19 Cavernomas podem ser esporádicos ou familiares.…”

Hemangiomas cavernosos encefalicos: presentacion de dos casos

“…Consideramos esta conducta de elección, siempre y cuando la localización y el número de lesiones lo permita. El pronóstico de los casos no intervenidos es reservado debido a la facilidad de ocurrir sangramientos en estas lesiones 31 . Es importante recalcar la necesidad de sospechar precozmente la presencia de los HC encefálicos y determinar su posibilidad quirúrgica, pues Voight y Yasargil 3 * en 1976, sólo reportan 21 casos intervenidos quirúrgicamente con resultados satisfactorios, no encontrando nosotros en Ias fuentes revisadas nuevos casos reportados hasta el momento.…”