Giant cavernous hemangiomas: report of three cases

Abstract

Giant cavernous hemangiomas occur very rarely, and little has been reported about their behavior. In this case report three cavernous hemangiomas with a diametric measure between 6 cm and 7 cm and distinct features will be described. A 36-year-old female patient presented with headache and nausea. A CT scan disclosed a large circumscribed tumor with strong contrast enhancement in the temporo-parieto-occipital region of the right cerebral hemisphere and extension into the right cerebellar hemisphere. A 35-year-old woman was admitted to our emergency ward with a generalized seizure and a dilated pupil. The CT scan showed an extensive left frontal lesion containing a substantial hyperintense part, suspicious for hemorrhage. A 3-year-old girl was admitted with generalized seizure and progressively declining consciousness. A large left frontotemporal paraventricular multi-cystic lesion was encountered on the CT scan. All three patients were operated on. Two recovered very well. In the case of the 3-year-old girl stable disease was reached. Giant cavernomas do not differ from average-sized cavernomas in clinical, surgical or histopathological presentation but may differ radiologically. However, the possible diagnosis of cavernoma can be overlooked, due to their size and possible differential diagnosis.

Giant Cavernous Malformation : A Case Report and Review of the Literature

“…We defined GCMs as cavernoma with a diameter greater than 6 cm in accordance with Lawton et al 15) . With this definition, we found that only 14 cases have been repoted in the literature 7,14,23,24) .…”

“…GCMs are very rare and little has been reported about their clinical characteristics 7,14,23,24) . But, the definition of GCMs is arbitrary.…”

Giant Cavernous Malformation Presenting as a Large Cystic Intracranial Mass with an Enhancing Mural Nodule: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

“…1 These vascular anomalies are composed of abnormal cavernous endothelial-lined spaces lacking smooth muscle and intervening neural tissue. Within these channels, static blood flow results in thrombosis, hematoma organization, and eventual calcification.…”

“…A number of case reports describe a tumefactive appearance on MRI, as the lesions demonstrate an apparent infiltrative pattern and significant perilesional edema. 1,6,13,14 These masses may mimic the appearance of high-grade glial neoplasms or hemorrhagic tumors, such as, oligodendrogliomas and metastases. Further complicating the differential diagnosis are largely cystic masses without surrounding edema or an infiltrative appearance.…”

Giant cerebral cavernous hemangiomas. a report of two cases and review of literature.

“…GCM are very rare and usually not considered in the differential diagnosis of large tumour. Our literature search could locate only 16 cases of GCM (1, 4,5,7,8,12,13,15,20,23,37) including the two cases in the present report, fulfilling our definition of GCM (Table I).…”