Intracranial cavernous angioma]

Cavernous angiomas are vascular malformations that belong to the group of hamartomas. Evidence to support the hypothesis that some intracranial cavernous angiomas are benign vascular tumors is lacking. As they are angiographically occult, cavernous angiomas were largely overlooked and were considered rare before CT scan and MRI became available. Both of these techniques provide a quick and accurate diagnosis in cases of epilepsy, brain hemorrhage or intracranial hypertension. Most of the hemispheric cavernous angiomas are situated subcortically, in the neighborhood of the rolandic fissure. In the brain stem, they can be found mostly in the pons. Cerebellum and spinal cord are seldom involved. Cavernous angiomas may occur in children, as well as in familial forms, or in association with other visceral locations. It is important to know that some cavernous angiomas are able to grow, owing to a variety of mechanisms, which may result in rupture and cerebral hemorrhage. The improvement of both imaging and surgical techniques have reduced the risks of death or heavy sequelae. Some deeply located cavernous angiomas, however, are still inaccessible to surgery.