CAVERNOMA

What’s a Cavernoma?

The medical term “Cavernoma” refers to a cluster of abnormal blood vessels that looks similar a raspberry, usually found in the brain or spinal cord (Lee et al., 2019). Cavernoma, also known as cavernous hemangiomas, cavernous angiomas, or cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM) which ranges from a few millimeters to several centimeters across. It’s brimming with blood that runs slowly via “cavernous” vessels. Although a cavernoma may grow larger, they do not spread to other regions of the body. It’s filled with blood that flows slowly through “cavernous” vessels. Small volumes of blood ooze (inwards) within the cavernoma or (outwards) into surrounding tissue when the cells lining the blood vessels ooze. Cavernoma can potentially affect other parts of the body, including the spine. 

A cavernoma can develop for a variety of reasons. Among them, genetics acts as a major cause (less than 30%) of cavernoma, which requires genetic testing for accurate diagnosis. Parents with the genetic type of cavernoma possess 1 in 2 chances of passing this disease to their offspring (Shervin, Modabbernia, Sepideh, & Fred, 2005). Other causes of cavernoma include past radiation exposure, such as brain radiotherapy received as a child. In the USA, approximately one in 200 people develop cavernoma. Many people develop cavernoma at birth, while others emerge later in adulthood, frequently in conjunction with other endovascular anomalies such a venous malformation. The majority of people have never had a cavernoma in their family. CCM affects one in every 100 people in the United States, approximately 3.5 million people.

What’s the Common Signs and Symptoms of Cavernoma?

Depending on the location of cavernoma, the type, severity, combination, and duration of symptoms may differ. Single or many cavernoma at the surface of the ‘hemispheres’ or ‘lobes’ in the brain causes epileptic seizures. Cavernomas may not cause any symptoms at first, but roughly 1 in every 3 persons with cavernous angiomas may develop symptoms at some point in their lives, usually between the ages of 20 and 40 (Cisneros, Rehmani, & Garcia de de Jesus, 2019). Common symptoms of cavernoma may include headache, seizures, neurological problems such as loss of vision, balance problems, dizziness, tremors, memory and attention problems, incoordination, weakness of limb, spinal cord injury, brain hemorrhage which may produce stroke-like symptoms, etc. Other symptoms of ruptured cavernoma may include a sudden, intense headache, nausea, and vomiting, weakness, numbness, tiredness, sensitivity to light, fainting, or loss of consciousness. Although, many cavernoma cases can remain unnoticed due to lack of symptoms. Sometimes severe brain damage causes death among patients in rare cases.

How Do Spinal Specialists Diagnose Cavernoma?

Fort Worth Neurosurgeons usually perform brain imaging tests to diagnose any neurological problems and observe any cavernous malformations in the brain. Later, neurosurgeons can perform more extensive testing based on the specific symptoms of the patient. These include (Augenstein, Chapman, McNeil, & Lo, 2019):

1. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Neurosurgeons found this test as the most reliable diagnostic tool available to determine the presence of cavernoma. This helps to obtain detailed images of the brain or spinal cord. Neurosurgeons usually inject a contrast dye into the vein of a patient to observe the blood vessels in a different way. Various techniques of MRI may include High-Field MRI, T1- and T2-Weighted (gradient echo) MR Imaging, Gradient Recalled Echo (GRE) MR Imaging, Diffusion Tensor (DT) Imaging, Susceptibility-Weighted MR Imaging, etc.
2. Genetic testing: Genetic testing helps to reveal the presence of this malformation if the patient’s family has a history of this condition. This test identifies the changes associated with cavernous malformations in the genes or chromosomes of a patient.
3. Other tests: Other imaging tests such as angiography and CT scans also help to see the images of the brain.

How rare is a Cavernoma?

Cavernomas abide by having abnormally formed blood vessels that resemble a cluster of grapes. These abnormal clusters, known as Cavernomas, can occur anywhere in the body but most commonly found in the brain and spinal cord. Understanding the rarity of Cavernomas requires an exploration of their prevalence and the factors that contribute to their occurrence. Understanding Cavernoma Incidence They’re considered rare vascular anomalies, meaning they occur less frequently compared to other medical conditions. Vascular anomalies encompass a broad range of conditions affecting the blood vessels, including Cavernomas. Within this spectrum, Cavernomas represent a distinct entity due to their unique characteristics and prevalence. Statistical data on Cavernoma prevalence reveals that they’re indeed uncommon, although their exact incidence rates may vary across populations. Globally, the estimated prevalence of Cavernomas ranges from 0.4% to 0.9% of the general population. These numbers indicate that they’re not widespread and that only a small fraction of individuals remains affected by this condition. Factors Influencing Cavernoma Rarity The rarity of Cavernomas attributes to various factors, including genetic predisposition, age, and gender. In some cases, Cavernomas occur sporadically, meaning there’s no clear genetic link. However, research has identified specific genetic mutations that can contribute to the development of Cavernomas. These mutations affect the formation and maintenance of blood vessels, increasing the likelihood of Cavernoma occurrence.

How Do Spinal Specialists Treat Cavernoma?

Based on the clinical presentation and factors such as size, location, and the number of lesions, neurosurgeons will design the treatment protocol for a patient with cavernoma. While treating cavernoma, the medical team requires a skilled neurologist, a neurosurgeon, a neuroradiologist, and other specialists. Treatment procedure may include (Salman et al., 2016):

1. Close observation or monitoring

In case of an asymptomatic condition, neurosurgeons can monitor the changes and growth of malformations before going to the treatment options. Neurosurgeons recommend performing various diagnostic tests, such as MRI, to observe the changes of malformations. 

2. Medications

Neurosurgeons can treat cavernoma patients according to their produced symptoms. For patients with seizures and headaches, neurosurgeons suggest specific medications to control these symptoms. 

3. Surgical approach

If the above all option fails, neurosurgeons will go for surgery. This approach reduces the risk of brain hemorrhage and acts as a life-saver. Neurosurgeons can try neurosurgery or stereotactic radiosurgery to recover this condition. Neurosurgery helps to remove the cavernoma by exposing the brain through craniotomy techniques in patients. During radiosurgery, neurosurgeons use radiation therapy to prevent the growth of cavernoma. For any information, please contact us.

If You need of a Fort Worth Neurosurgeon, Contact Longhorn Brain & Spine Immediately To Get a Consultation.

References

Augenstein, J. A., Chapman, T., McNeil, M. J., & Lo, M. D. (2019). “it’s Not a Tumor”: A Rare Case of Symptomatic Cerebellar Developmental Venous Anomaly. Pediatric Emergency Care, 35(2), E40–E41. https://doi.org/10.1097/PEC.0000000000001176

Cisneros, O., Rehmani, R., & Garcia de de Jesus, K. (2019). Cerebellar Cavernous Malformation (Cavernoma): A Case Report. Cureus, 11(4), 3–7. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.4371

Lee, C. C., Wang, W. H., Yang, H. C., Lin, C. J., Wu, H. M., Lin, Y. Y., … Hsu, S. P. C. (2019). Gamma Knife radiosurgery for cerebral cavernous malformation. Scientific Reports, 9(1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-56119-1

Salman, R. A. S., Kitchen, N., Thomson, J., Ganesan, V., Mallucci, C., & Radatz, M. (2016). Top ten research priorities for brain and spine cavernous malformations. The Lancet Neurology, 15(4), 354–355. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(16)00039-9

Shervin, T., Modabbernia, A., Sepideh, A.-H., & Fred, G. B. (2005). Natural history ofcavernous malformation Systematic review and meta-analysis. Heterocycles, 66(1), 45–50.