Cavernous Malformations

Overview

Cavernous Malformation

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Mayo Clinic offers comprehensive resources to diagnose and treat patients with cavernous malformations, also known as cavernomas. Sophisticated MRI screening capabilities, genetic testing and extensive surgical experience are among the state-of-the-art capabilities available.

At Mayo Clinic, experienced and highly trained specialists from Neurology, Neuroradiology and Neurosurgery work together to determine the most appropriate treatment for patients with brain cavernous malformations. An evaluation that may take weeks to accomplish in other settings can be achieved quickly through Mayo's combination of efficient collaboration and innovative diagnostic tools.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, is ranked No. 1 in Neurology & Neurosurgery in the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings.

Diagnosis

Cavernous malformations are relatively uncommon, as is the likelihood that they'll bleed seriously. These vascular malformations typically do not cause any symptoms, but instead are detected on a brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan done for unrelated reasons. In other cases, the cavernous malformation may lead to significant bleeding or hemorrhage into the brain tissue, causing weakness, numbness, difficulty in speaking, difficulty in seeing, gait unsteadiness or incoordination. Even the small amount of blood surrounding the cavernoma can cause irritation of the surrounding brain tissue, sometimes causing seizures.

Learn more about cavernous malformation diagnosis.

Treatment

Cavernous malformations treatment involves mainly observation and surgery, depending on the severity of the malformation. In Mayo Clinic's integrated system, a team of cerebrovascular specialists, including neurologists, neurosurgeons and neuroradiologists, work together to determine the most appropriate course of treatment for each patient.

Learn more about cavernous malformation treatment options.

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About Cavernous Malformations

Cavernous malformations are vascular malformations in the brain or spinal cord. Also known as brain cavernous hemangiomas or cavernomas, cavernous malformations are groups of abnormally tiny and larger, thin-walled blood vessels filled with blood that may slowly seep into surrounding tissue. The leakage of blood from the cavernoma may be more significant and cause what is called a hemorrhage.

When viewed under a microscope, cavernous malformations appear as tiny blood-filled caverns in the brain. These blood vessel malformations may also occur in the spinal cord, the covering of the brain (dura) or the nerves of the skull.

Brain cavernous malformations range in size from less than one quarter-inch to the circumference of a small orange. They occur with equal frequency in men and women and have been found in people of all ages. The first symptoms generally occur when people are in their 30s.

The primary risk associated with cavernomas is bleeding into the brain tissue, also called an intracerebral hemorrhage. Seizures also may occur when the malformation is in the cortex (the surface layer of gray matter in the brain). Cavernous malformations can slowly enlarge because of repeated small hemorrhages or bleeding surrounding the lesion. Cavernomas are usually distinct from the surrounding brain tissue because they tend to push normal tissue aside.

Cavernous malformations may be hereditary and are more common in Hispanic populations. People with familial cavernomas tend to have more than one malformation and may also have a slightly higher risk of hemorrhage than people with than cavernous malformations caused by non-hereditary factors.