Cavernous malformations are clusters of enlarged blood vessels that can occur anywhere in the body, but are of particular concern in the brain and spine. They can be genetic or related to trauma, and symptoms include headaches, seizures, and neurological problems. Treatment options vary depending on the location and severity of the malformation.
A cavernous malformation is a vascular abnormality characterized by clusters of blood vessels that are unusually enlarged, creating caverns within the cluster through which blood moves very slowly. Cavernous malformations or cavernomas as they are also known can be found anywhere in the body, but they are a special cause for concern in the brain and when people refer to a cavernous malformation, they are usually talking about a formation in the brain or spine cable. People may also use the terms “cavernous angioma” or “cavernous hemangioma” to refer to this type of vascular abnormality.
The cause of this condition appears to be genetic, with some people simply being born with a predisposition to developing cavernous malformations. In other cases, it may be related to pathological processes or trauma. Often, these malformations are diagnosed when a medical imaging study of the head or spine is done for an unrelated reason, and a doctor notices the appearance of a cavernous malformation. Others are diagnosed in response to specific symptoms that may lead a doctor to suspect a neurological problem is occurring.
One of the classic symptoms is headaches. Patients may also experience seizures and neurological problems such as slurred speech, numbness and tingling in the extremities, or blurred vision. One of the most serious complications of a cavernous malformation is bleeding, which can cause brain damage. Bleeding is relatively rare, but it can happen, making some lumps of concern among some doctors.
When a patient is diagnosed with cavernous malformation, there are several options for treatment. Treatment options depend on the location and size of the malformation, along with the patient’s experiences with the symptoms. In some cases, a doctor may simply recommend that the growth be left alone and monitored for any signs of problematic developments. In other cases, surgery may be done to correct the vascular deformity. Surgery carries some risks, so a doctor usually only recommends it when he thinks surgery would be a good idea for a patient.
The development of a cavernous malformation is quite rare. Patients with mild malformations can live quite happily with them without even being aware of it, and even after diagnosis, some patients require no additional treatment beyond periodic follow-up to confirm that the malformation is not growing or bleeding. For patients with more severe malformations, there are a number of surgical options that can be discussed with a neurosurgeon.
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