eMedicine Specialties > Radiology > Brain/Spine

Brain, Cavernous Angiomas: Follow-up

Author: James C Jacobsen, MD, Staff Physician, Vascular and Interventional Radiology, X-Ray Medical Group, Sharp Grossmont Hospital
Coauthor(s): L Gill Naul, MD, Professor and Head, Department of Radiology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine; Chair, Department of Radiology, Chief, Section of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Scott and White Memorial Hospital and Clinic
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: May 20, 2009

Intervention

Most cavernous malformations do not produce significant symptoms in patients, and most can simply be followed up over time.9 For patients in whom lesions cause significant neurologic morbidity, treatment options are available. These options differ depending on the location, size, and amount of the associated hemorrhage. Surgical resection is an option, but depending on the location of the lesion and the patient's existing comorbidities, surgical resection is not the best option in some cases.10,11,12,13,14

Stereotactic radiosurgery is an important option in arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and hemorrhagic cavernous malformations.15 The procedure is relatively contraindicated in patients with concomitant venous angiomas because of the high incidence of posttreatment morbidity.16

Radiosurgery is defined as a single-session closed-skull injury of an intracranial target.17 This target is stereotactically defined by using high-dose ionizing external-beam irradiation with relative sparing of surrounding normal tissue. Several techniques are highly effective in the treatment of AVMs. Outcome data are less extensive for patients treated for cavernous malformations, but radiosurgery appears to be effective in reducing the risk of repeat hemorrhage in lesions with at least 2 prior hemorrhages. Lesions with fewer than 2 prior bleeds should typically be followed up by using MRI.

 


More on Brain, Cavernous Angiomas

Overview: Brain, Cavernous Angiomas
Imaging: Brain, Cavernous Angiomas
Follow-up: Brain, Cavernous Angiomas
Multimedia: Brain, Cavernous Angiomas
References
Further Reading
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References

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Keywords

cavernous angiomas, cavernous malformation, cavernous hemangioma, cavernomas, occult cerebrovascular malformation, intracranial vascular malformations

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

James C Jacobsen, MD, Staff Physician, Vascular and Interventional Radiology, X-Ray Medical Group, Sharp Grossmont Hospital
James C Jacobsen, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Radiology, American Medical Association, Radiological Society of North America, Society of Interventional Radiology, and Texas Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

L Gill Naul, MD, Professor and Head, Department of Radiology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine; Chair, Department of Radiology, Chief, Section of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Scott and White Memorial Hospital and Clinic
L Gill Naul, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Radiology, American Medical Association, American Roentgen Ray Society, Radiological Society of North America, and Texas Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Robert A Koenigsberg, DO, MSc, FAOCR, Professor, Director of Neuroradiology, Program Director, Diagnostic Radiology and Neuroradiology Training Programs, Department of Radiology, Hahnemann University Hospital, Drexel University College of Medicine
Robert A Koenigsberg, DO, MSc, FAOCR is a member of the following medical societies: American Osteopathic Association, American Society of Neuroradiology, Radiological Society of North America, and Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Bernard D Coombs, MB, ChB, PhD, Consulting Staff, Department of Specialist Rehabilitation Services, Hutt Valley District Health Board, New Zealand
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Robert M Krasny, MD, Consulting Staff, Department of Radiology, Resolution Imaging Medical Corporation
Robert M Krasny, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Roentgen Ray Society and Radiological Society of North America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

James G Smirniotopoulos, MD, Professor of Radiology, Neurology, and Biomedical Informatics, Chairman, Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
James G Smirniotopoulos, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Radiology, American Roentgen Ray Society, American Society of Head and Neck Radiology, American Society of Neuroradiology, American Society of Pediatric Neuroradiology, Association of University Radiologists, and Radiological Society of North America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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