Cavernoma
The recommended treatment for cavernoma will vary depending on an individual's circumstancesand factors such as size, location and number.
Some cavernomasymptoms, such as headaches andseizures, can be controlled with medication.
However,more invasive treatmentmay sometimes be offered to reduce the risk of future haemorrhages. The decision to have such treatmentis made on a case-by-case basis in discussion with your doctor.
Types of treatment offered in the UK to reduce the risk of haemorrhages include:
In most cases, neurosurgery is preferred tostereotactic radiosurgery because the effectiveness of radiosurgery in preventing haemorrhages is unknown.
Stereotactic radiosurgery is usually only consideredif the position of the cavernoma makes neurosurgery too difficult or dangerous.
Risks ofinvasive treatment include stroke and death, althoughthe exact risks depend on the location of the cavernoma. You should discuss the possible risks of treatment with your doctor beforehand.
Find out what a cavernoma is, what symptoms it can cause, and the importance of closely monitoring symptoms, plus how it's diagnosed and the possible treatment options.
A cavernoma often doesn't cause symptoms, but when symptoms do occur they can include: bleeding (haemorrhage) fits (seizures) Headaches neurological problems, such as dizziness, slurred speech
In most cases, there's no clear reason why a person develops a cavernoma. The condition can sometimes run in families less than 50% of cases are thought to be genetic. However, in most cases cavernom
It'sestimated about 1 in every 600 people in the UK has a cavernoma that doesn'tcause symptoms. Every year, around1 person in every 400,000 in the UK is diagnosed with a cavernoma that has caused sym
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans are mainly used to diagnose cavernomas. As symptoms aren't always evident, many people are only diagnosed with a cavernoma after having an MRI scan for another r
Any symptoms you have may come and go as the cavernomableeds and then reabsorbs blood. It'simportant to closely monitor your symptoms,as anynew symptoms might be a sign of a haemorrhage. Your doctor
The risk of having a haemorrhage varies from person to person, depending on whether you have experienced any bleeding before. If you haven't had any bleeding before, it's estimated you have a less th
The recommended treatment for cavernoma will vary depending on an individual's circumstancesand factors such as size, location and number. Some cavernomasymptoms, such as headaches andseizures, can b
International research programmes are trying to find out more about what causes cavernoma and how these defective blood vessels are formed. The long-term outlook for people with cavernomas is also bei