What is a Cavernous Malformation?

A cavernous malformation is a vascular abnormality characterized by clusters of blood vessels which are unusually enlarged, creating caverns within the cluster through which blood moves very sluggishly. 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 spinal cord. People may also use the terms “cavernous angioma” or “cavernous hemangioma” to refer to this type of vascular abnormality.

The cause for this condition appears to be genetic, with some people simply being born with a predisposition for developing cavernous malformations. In other cases, it may be related to disease processes or trauma. Often, these malformations are diagnosed when a medical imaging study of the head or spine is performed for an unrelated reason and a doctor notes the appearance of a cavernous malformation. Others are diagnosed in response to specific symptoms which may make a doctor suspicious that a neurological problem is occurring.

One of the classic symptoms is headache. Patients can also experience seizures and neurological issues such as slurred speech, numbness and tingling in the extremities, or blurred vision. One of the more serious complications of a cavernous malformation is bleeding, which can cause damage to the brain. Bleeding is relatively rare, but it can happen, making certain formations a cause of concern among some medical practitioners.

When a patient is diagnosed with a 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 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 instances, surgery can be performed to correct the vascular deformity. Surgery carries some risks, so a doctor usually only recommends it when he or she thinks that surgery would be a good idea for a patient.

Developing a cavernous malformation is quite rare. Patients with mild malformations may be living quite contentedly 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 isn't growing or bleeding. For patients with more severe malformations, there are a number of surgical options which can be discussed with a neurosurgeon.