Radiation diagnostics of cerebral cavernous malformations

Abstract

Cavernous malformations of the brain are currently a fairly common vascular pathology, the number of detected cases has increased dramatically in recent years. This is due to the introduction into clinical practice and widespread dissemination of modern neuroimaging methods, such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Before the advent of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, it was very difficult to diagnose this pathology, and the diagnosis, most often, was established intraoperatively or according to autopsy data. A review of the literature is devoted to radiological diagnosis of cerebral cavernous malformations. The importance of neuroimaging methods for the diagnosis of cavernous malformations was analyzed, as well as the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for visualization of cavernous malformations. The advantages of MRI over other methods of neuroimaging of this pathology have been revealed. Pulse sequences of MRI and signaling c haracteristics of foci of various types depending on the morphological substrate were characterized. The significance of the SWI (susceptibility weighted imaging) sequence for the detection of multifocal lesions in cases of familial CCM was analyzed. Consideration of the main MRI pulse sequences for visualization of cavernous malformations will optimize the protocol algorithm for the timely diagnosis of this pathology and the choice of treatment tactics.