Paediatric intramedullary spinal cord cavernous malformations: case report and review of the literature

Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2009 Nov;111(9):784-8. doi: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2009.07.002. Epub 2009 Aug 3.

Abstract

Cavernous malformations are vascular lesions which can occur throughout the entire neuraxis. This term is synonymous to cavernous angioma, cavernous haemangioma, and cavernoma. They comprise of closely packed, capillary-like vascular channels, without intervening neural tissue. MR imaging is currently the study of choice for the diagnosis of cavernous malformations as they are considered angiographically occult lesions. Intramedullary location represents only 3-5% of all central nervous system cavernous malformations, with the majority of them being supratentorial. Only 10% of the intramedullary cavernous malformations present in the paediatric population. As the natural history of these lesions is not well known, the debate on the optimal management of them is still ongoing. Here we describe the case of a 14-year-old male with progression of symptoms over an 18 months period, which necessitated microsurgical removal of a T9 intramedullary cavernous malformation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Movement Disorders / etiology
  • Movement Disorders / psychology
  • Muscle Weakness / etiology
  • Neurosurgical Procedures
  • Pyramidal Tracts / pathology
  • Spinal Cord / abnormalities*
  • Spinal Cord / pathology
  • Spinal Cord / surgery
  • Treatment Outcome