Cavernous Malformations: What You Need to Know

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Chapters

0:00 Introduction
0:52 Causes of Cavernous Malformations
1:23 Symptoms of Cavernous Malformations
2:09 Diagnosis of Cavernous Malformations
2:41 Treatment of Cavernous Malformations




• Cavernous malformations are a mass of tiny, abnormal blood vessels and larger, thin-walled blood vessels that are stretched out and filled with blood. 
• The clusters are found inside the brain, usually in the cerebrum portion. 
• However, the clusters can also occur in the spine and the outer covering (dura), and nerves of the brain. 
• Cavernous malformations are small in size, around a quarter to three-quarters of an inch. 
• They are also known as cavernous angiomas, cavernous hemangiomas, cavernomas, and intracranial vascular malformations. 
• Because of where they occur, cavernous malformations can cause severe symptoms that require medical attention. 
• Here’s all you need to know about this:
Causes
• The exact cause of cavernous malformations is not known. 
• Experts believe that it may be a result of genetic mutations and can be inherited. 
• Studies show that around 20% of people with cerebral cavernous malformations have to deal with the familial type.
• The genes supposed to be responsible for this include CCM2, KRIT1 (CCM1), and PDCD10 (CCM3).
Symptoms
• A person with cavernous malformations may not experience symptoms for quite some time. 
• When they do appear, their intensity depends on where they are located and the strength of their walls. 
• Furthermore, the neurological conditions they may cause depend on the affected area of the brain or the spinal cord. 
• Symptoms might go away for some time as cavernous malformations release the blood they have inside before beginning to reabsorb it. 
• The symptoms you might experience are:
• Problems with balance
• Seizures
• Weakness in the legs or arms
• Vision problems
• Headaches
• Attention and memory problems
Diagnosis
• You need to seek medical help if any of those symptoms appear suddenly. 
• A doctor will ask for your family history and a detailed account of your symptoms. 
• If they suspect cavernous malformation, they will ask for an MRI scan of the head region. 
• MRIs, with contrast or without, are repeated several times to determine the exact location and the size of the malformations. 
• You will be referred to a neurosurgeon after a cavernous malformation diagnosis. 
Treatment
• Cavernous malformations might show symptoms for years. 
• If they are discovered meanwhile, the “asymptomatic lesions” will simply be monitored to check on their size. 
• You might be prescribed anticonvulsant medication and will need tests every year to take a look at the malformations. 
• For symptomatic lesions, you might be given medication to control the symptoms until they subside. 
• However, surgery is often considered for serious cases if:
• The seizures cannot be kept in check through medication 
• The malformations are easily accessible and in a low-risk part of the brain 
• The malformations are confirmed to be causing the symptoms