Neurosurgery

Cavernous Angioma

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About Cavernous Angioma

Cavernous Angioma

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General Information

A cavernous angioma is a blood vessel abnormality characterized by large, adjacent capillaries with little or no intervening brain. The blood flow through these vessels is slow. Cavernous angiomas can occur anywhere in the central nervous system. The disease occurs in 0.4 percent of the population, and 18.7 percent of these patients have multiple lesions.

Symptoms

  • Symptoms include seizures, headache, hemorrhage or compression of surrounding brain tissue, called mass effect. Mass effect can cause weakness, numbness, double vision, visual disturbance or language difficulties.
  • About 11 percent of lesions are not symptomatic.

Diagnosis

  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the most sensitive test for identifying cavernous angioma lesions. MRI scans often show small areas of new or old hemorrhages as a rim around the cavernous angioma. These lesions are not visible in cerebral angiography.

Treatment

  • Patients with seizures are very likely to become symptomatic again. Seizure control frequently becomes more difficult with time, requiring surgical removal of the lesion.
  • Surgical removal of the lesions offers the best possible outcome, but the risks of hemorrhage, age of the patient, presence of previous hemorrhages and the patient’s symptoms all must be considered.
  • Symptomatic cavernous angiomas in children usually require treatment due to the high risk of future hemorrhage and greater seizure potential in children.

Outcome

The Neuro-ICU cares for patients with all types of neurosurgical and neurological injuries, including stroke, brain hemorrhage, trauma and tumors. We work in close cooperation with your surgeon or medical doctor with whom you have had initial contact. Together with the surgeon or medical doctor, the Neuro-ICU attending physician and team members direct your family member's care while in the ICU. The Neuro-ICU team consists of the bedside nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians in specialty training (Fellows) and attending physicians. UCLA Neuro ICU Family Guide